The A.P. Reorganization Bill to carve out a new state of Telangana was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday even as the Seemandhra MPs belonging to both the Congress and Telugu Desam parties created an unprecedented mayhem by going on rampage in the House.
Mikes were wrenched, pepper spray used, computers and glass broken and blows were exchanged as never before in the history of Indian parliamentary democracy. Unmindful of the raging turmoil what with the members from Andhra Pradesh going berserk, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde introduced the T Bill .
Speaker Meira Kumar, despite being visibly upset and rattled by the unfolding violent drama, announced the introduction of the Bill after seeking the permission of the House by voice vote. She abruptly adjourned the House even as many members started fleeing with burning eyes and suffocation from the pungent odour that engulfed the premises.
Later speaking to the media the Speaker said “I am too anguished”. Indian parliamentary democracy was admired and respected all over the world. But today’s happening in the House has not only slurred the image of our parliament but also a blot on the entire nation, she observed. Shocked and taken aback by the incidents, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said “My heart is bleeding”.
Asserting that the T Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamalnath observed that in a parliamentary democracy one can express dissent but cannot indulge ion disruption or violence. In his 33 years of parliamentary life he had not come across such ugly and violent scenario in the august House. “I feel ashamed” he observed and condemned the action of the 25 MPs from Seemandhra holding hostage the entire House. To a pointed question the Minister said “I was told there was gas, knives, other materials as well” and described it as “anarchy”.
Since morning unprecedented security arrangements were made in and around parliament following threats from Seemandhra leaders to prevent the presentation of the T Bill. Congress MP Sabbam Hari had even threatened self-immolation in the House if the Bill was introduced. In order to ensure that no untoward incident takes place, heavy police arrangements were made in and around the parliament house.
There was also heavy deployment of Marshals, who were instructed to stand by for any emergency. Fire extinguishers , ambulances and blankets were also kept ready. Entry into parliament was strictly tightened up with no visitors allowed and even media personnel entering the Press Gallery were subjected to rare checks and scrutiny.
Even before parliament began its sitting for the day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discussed with some of his senior ministers about the possibility of introducing the T Bill in the House in view of the expected trouble from the AP members supporting the cause for a united state. And as expected soon after Lok Sabha sat at the scheduled time, disturbance rocked the House with the Seemandhra MPs trooping into the well and stalled the proceedings by chanting slogans. The Speaker was forced to adjourn the House till 12 noon.
When the House re-assembled the trouble continued and escalated into an unprecedented turmoil as the listed agenda was being taken up one after another. Despite the ruckus created by the Congress and TDP members from Seemandhra and raging hyper-tension in the House, the Speaker asked the Union Home Minister to introduce the T Bill.
Suddenly unexpected and unsavory scenario began to unfold with the Seemandhra MPs trying to prevent the Home Minister from presenting the Bill and the Telangana MPs rushing to his rescue. There was a virtual scuffle between the MPs of both the regions and some of them even began exchanging blows and indulged in fisty cuffs.
At one stage the suspended Congress MP, Lagadapati Rajgopal, rushed towards the Home Minister and tried to snatch the papers, while TDP member Madugula Venugopal Reddy climbed on to the table of the Secretary General and wrenched the mike and tried to inflict injury on himself. Other members rushed and pulled him down. Meanwhile there was a scuffle between some Telangana MPs and Rajagopal who began using pepper spray after breaking and smashing a computer. Many members began to feel choked and suffocated due to the spraying and with burning eyes began to flee the House in fear.
Apart from many members who were affected by the pepper spraying, even Speaker Meira Kumar suffered burning of eyes and had to be rushed home immediately for first aid. Ambulances and doctors were also summoned and four MPs were admitted to hospital. Among those admitted were Lagadapati Rajgopal and Ponnam Prabhkar.
Similar hyper drama was enacted in the Rajya Sabha where the Seemandhra MPs of both Congress and TDP virtually turned violent. At one stage TDP member Ramesh was seen wrenching the mike from the Chairman’s podium despite warnings from the Deputy Chairman. As a matter of fact Marshals had to intervene in both the House to check the rampaging members and turning the august House into a free for all arena.
While the lawmakers themselves were engaged in acts of rowdyism and dadagiri inside parliament, similar distressing scenes were enacted outside with Seemndhra and Telangana supporters repeatedly clashed forcing the police to use force and whisked them away in vans.
Shaken up by the disturbing turn of events, both the Houses sat a for brief period in the afternoon and adjourned to meet again on Monday. Before adjourning the Lok Sabha, Speaker Meria Kumar, terribly disturbed and upset over events in the morning, announced the suspension of the MPs who had indulged in vandalism.
As one senior parliamentarian put it, today’s happenings in both the Houses of parliament could be described in a nut-shell as “disgraceful, unprecedented and unforgivable”. Undoubtedly the MPs from the state have shamed the culture, pride and prestige of Telugu people. (NSS).