Budget session tumbles over paralised Telangana

New Delhi, Feb 23: After the total failure of the Parliament's Winter Session in Nov 2010, Congress led UPA government was very concerned regarding the smooth functioning in the Budget Session. The Prime Minister, stooped to the Opposition's demand and announced a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe in the 2G spectrum scam. However, the Session tumbled and this time the Telangana issue was the epicenter of the row.

On the third day of the Budget session, which started from Feb 21, Lok Sabha experienced three adjournments over the separate Telangana state issue. At the very beginning of the session, some members from the TRS, the TDP and the Congress raised the issue on Wednesday, Feb 23.

With the demand of motion, the protesting MPs created hurdles for the Parliament's proceedings and Speaker Meira Kumar. The Speaker's suggestion to raise the matter during the Zero Hour failed to cut any ice with the TRS members, who continued to press their demands.

The Speaker adjourned the session at 11:30 am for about 20 minutes and when the House re-assembled, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj made a strong plea for a separate Telangana.

"Everything has come to a standstill in Telangana region. This can be resolved right way, the Prime Minister is sitting here. If he says that government will bring a bill for a separate Telangana, we will support it," Swaraj said.

Pointing at the paralised lives of people in Andhra Pradesh, Swaraj also claimed, "Why are the ruling MPs shouting slogans? This is because everything in Telangana is stuck, employees are on a pen-down strike. Nothing is working there and if anything functions that is rubber bullets."

Normal life has been disrupted in the Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh from the last 48 hours as bandh has been maintained by Telangana groups in support of their demand for the introduction of a bill that would lead the way for a separate statehood in the region.

The State Government employees in the Telangana region have already been organising a non-cooperation agitation in support of the separate statehood demand.

OneIndia News
(With inputs from PTI)