Parliament was adjourned for the day on Monday as Telugu Desam Party MPs continued their protest, pressing for special category status for Andhra Pradesh.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till Tuesday soon after it reconvened in the afternoon. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had introduced the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill when the MPs started protesting. The proceedings in the Upper House, which met again at 2 pm after the disruptions in the morning, were also adjourned for the day.
The TDP legislators made sure that their appeal was heard outside the Houses, as well. They protested in the Parliament complex in front the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, demanding the special status for Andhra Pradesh.
The Telugu Desam Party was not alone in its protest in the. Members of the YSR Congress joined the TDP in its demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh.
Trinamool Congress leaders wore placards demanding electoral reforms.
Opposition parties had issued notices in the Rajya Sabha for discussions on a number of concerns – the Trinamool Congress gave a notice to discuss the fraud involving the Punjab National Bank; YSR Congress Party MP Vijay Sai Reddy’s notice demanded a discussion on the special status for Andhra Pradesh; and the Aam Aadmi Party wanted a discussion on the sealing drive in Delhi.
Telugu Desam Party MP YS Chowdary, who resigned as a Cabinet minister on Thursday, also introduced an adjournment motion notice in the Upper House. Chowdary, who was the minister of state for science and technology and earth sciences, and his TDP colleague Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju resigned from their Cabinet posts in protest against the Centre’s refusal to grant special category status for Andhra Pradesh.
The Budget Session of the Parliament has been repeatedly adjourned over the TDP’s demand. Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned time and again as the MPs did not allow proceedings to continue. On Friday, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said “one week had gone waste”.
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