New Delhi: There is jubilation and anger over Parliament passing the Telangana Bill. Minutes before the discussion on the Bill started, live telecast of Parliament proceedings was stopped at the Speaker’s order, presumably to block out the unruly behaviour of some MPs disturbing the proceedings.
Three of the five demands of Seemandhra MPs, including special financial aid and status for Seemandhra, were conceded, and an amendment motion introduced in the Lok Sabha by Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. Â
Amidst high tension, the suspended MPs tried to enter the Lok Sabha, and they were prevented from entering by the Marshalls.
First the original Telangana Bill and then the amendments were passed. Without BJP’s support, it could have been impossible to pass the Bill.
“It is daylight murder…the murder of democracy. The Speaker is acting as an agent of the Congress. More than 50% of the house is at the Well. They should have suspended the entire house and passed the bill,” said a TDP MP.
The Left and the Trinamool are reportedly protesting inside Lok Sabha over the manner in which the Bill is being taken up for passing. “Today democracy has been killed,” said Trinamool member Dinesh Trivedie.
Politicians from the Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh, including Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, oppose the bifurcation, worried about a smaller share of water, power and revenue from Telangana once the new state is created.