Rajya Sabha adjourned till 1130 hrs over AP water shortage issue

New Delhi, May 14 (UNI) The Telugu Desam Party supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party and other Opposition members today created an uproar in the House demanding a statement from the Government on the water shortage in Andhra Pradesh, forcing the Chair to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.

As soon as the House Assembled for the day, Telugu Desam members rose up and demanded that Question Hour be suspended and the matter taken up immediately as the construction of the dam at Babli on the Godavari river by the Maharashtra Government had created an acute water shortage in Andhra Pradesh.

Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said he was allowing them to read their statement within Question Hour, but the members kept on demanding its suspension. They trooped into the well of the House, where they were soon joined in by BJP members.

They wanted some Minister from the Government to come and make a statement. They also had verbal duels with several ruling party members like Minister for women and Child Welfare Renuka Choudhary and Mr Narain Swami during their protest.

Finding it impossible to carry on the business in the din, Mr Shekhawat announced adjournment of the House for 15 minutes till 1130 hrs.

UNI