Murder of Democracy

Telangana Bill tabled in LS amidst pitched battle

• All hell breaks loose as Seemandhra, T MPs come to blows
• Lagadapati uses pepper spray during the free-for-all
• Four MPs rushed to hospital; Konakalla Narayana serious

New Delhi: History was created on Thursday when the Congress-led UPA government introduced the much-awaited Telangana Bill, but what followed seconds later was unprecedented that shamed Parliament. All hell broke loose when, amid the din in the House, Seemandhra MPs realised that the Telangana Bill had been introduced by the government.

Congress-expelled MP Lagadpati Rajagopal took out pepper spray from his pocket and sprayed it in all directions, not sparing the media in the Press Gallery, while TDP MP Modugula Venugopal Reddy brandished a knife, which he later claimed that it was just a mike. In the mayhem, papers were torn and thrown at Speaker Meira Kumar, the mike was pulled out from her desk and the MPs stood on the chairs of the officials, right in front of the Speaker.

It all started at 12 noon, when the Lok Sabha reassembled after the House was adjourned during the Question Hour. Taking everyone by surprise, the Congress-led UPA government pushed ahead with the Telangana Bill which, though listed as 20-A in the Supplementary Agenda of the Legislative Business, was brought up as the first item. At the very outset, Speaker Meira Kumar called Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who sought leave of the House for introduction of the Bill. In the din created by the Seemandhra MPs, who were shouting slogans in favour of United Andhra Pradesh, the Speaker put it to voice-vote for grant of leave to present the Bill. Saying "Ayes have it, Ayes have it," she informed that the leave has been granted and the Home Minister should move the Bill. "I introduce the Bill, I introduce the Bill," the Home Minister said twice.

Later, Lok Sabha Secretary-General S Bal Shekar confirmed to The Hans India that the Telangana Bill has been introduced and it is in the record, no matter if some political parties are expressing apprehensions over it.

In less than two minutes, the Telangana Bill had been introduced that paved the way for the mayhem, setting a new low in the history of Indian parliamentary democracy. The pepper spray used by Lagadapati Rajgopal created nausea inside the House, with the MPs complaining of vomiting and itching in the eyes. Marshals trooped into the well of the House and held Rajagopal's wrist, forcing him to drop the spray from his hand. Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj was taken out by the Marshals, while others also rushed out of the House. The Speaker adjourned the House till 2 pm, complaining that the behavior of the MPs had brought blot to Parliament. Teary-eyed MPs came out of the Lok Sabha and three MPs were taken to the hospital. After the first-aid treatment, all of them were discharged. When the House reassembled in the afternoon, noisy scenes continued and this time round, attention shifted to TDP MP K Narayana Rao, who suddenly collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital. Sources stated that he was suffering from heart ailment. The House was adjourned till 3 pm. Following chaos and no change in the situation, the House was adjourned for the entire day. Cutting across party lines, all the leaders condemned the behavior of the Seemandhra MPs.