YSRCP stages walkout over Telangana Bill

Hyderabad, Jan 17 : The YSR Congress Party staged a walkout from the State Legislative Assembly on Friday alleging that there was no clarity on whether or not the government would conduct voting on Telangana Bill.

As soon as the House met at 9 AM on Friday, the TRS members entered the House raising Jai Telangana slogans. They were followed by YSRCP MLAs who entered while shouting Jai Samaikhyandhra slogans. Speaker Nadendla Manohar rejected the two adjournment motion notices seperately moved by TDP’s Anantha Babu and YSRCP Vijaya Lakshmi on Telangana Bill. In protest, the YSRCP MLAs rushed to the Speaker’s podium and stalled the proceedings demanding that an assurance be given that voting would be conducted on the Telangana Bill.

With the YSRCP MLAs refusing to resume their seats, the Speaker adjournment the House at 9.05 AM for half-an-hour. The YSRCP members continued their protest when the House re-assembled at about 10.30 AM. On being requested, the Speaker allowed Vijayamma to register her protest.

Vijayamma said that her party has made its stand clear from the Day 1 that it would not allow debate unless voting is held on Telangana Bill. She asked the Speaker to clarify whether or not the Bill would be subjected to voting. She said having discussions on the Bill without voting would serve no purpose. She said a decision that would affect the lives of nearly 10 crore Telugus could not be treated so lightly. She alleged that people were being subjected to hardship although they got freedom from the regimes of British and Nizams.

Vijayamma was interrupted on multiple occasions by the pro-Telangana legislators. The Speaker too requested her to register her protest instead of speaking on other issues.

The YSRCP floor leader then announced that in protest against lack of clarity on voting on Telangana Bill, her party was staging a walkout. The YSRCP MLAs then walked out of the House while shouting Jai Samaikhyandhra slogans. INN