In a reversal of roles, it was the ruling BJP benches that forced adjournment in the Upper House on Friday. It was done not to allow special status to Andhra Pradesh, alleged Congress.
Though the BJP MPs started building up the ruckus right from the question hour on AAP's MP Bhagwant Mann issue, they became truly unruly when deputy chairman PJ Kurien gave nod for introduction of private members bills at 2:30 pm.
Amid the bills was Congress member KVP Ramachandra Rao's bill seeking special status for Andhra Pradesh through an amendment in the AP Reorganization Bill.
Caught in a Catch-22 situation, ruling BJP government knew that if the bill gets passed it would give rise to similar demands by many states that have born through bifurcation and it would be impossible to say no to them. At the same, it did not want to be seen as the party opposing special status to Andhra.
The BJP benches chose a novel way to perform both the acts simultaneously.
The moment deputy chairman Kurien took up private members bill, BJP members created uproar seeking action against Mann for doing videography and posting it on the Facebook. Defeating Kurien's efforts to bring the House in order, rose minister for food processing industries, Harsimrat Kaur raising Mann's issue.
As a hapless Kurien failed to control, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said, "It is really shameful that despite being in the ruling party the BJP members are not allowing the house to run. They are deliberately doing this, I charge them. Why the minister is here, she should be in Lok Sabha."
As BJP members trooped into the well seeking action against Mann, Kurien pleaded with folded hands, "See, I am telling you, I have to introduce the Bills....But if Treasury Benchers are doing like this, what do I say?"
Congress leader Anand Sharma retorted, "We have a fundamental objection (a) ruling Party members are disrupting the House and (b) a minister who is not a member of this House intervening and interrupting repeatedly on a matter that was raised during the Zero Hour...A Minister can intervene in a discussion or a debate or when any Government business is being discussed. This is not Government business."
As drama continued and Kurien pleadings had no effect, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury accused BJP members for standing against the interests of Andhra.
"Sir, they are making a political point.... They are denying Andhra Pradesh their right to the package that has been promised in this House....They don't want that Bill to be passed," Yechury said.
Another Congress member asked, "It is their Government. Why don't they arrest him (Mann)? To whom are they demanding?"
BJP ally TDP's member CM Ramesh came to the rescue of the government saying, "Sir, this Bill is very important for Andhra Pradesh. You please keep the House in order."
An astonished Kurien replied, "Why do you do like this? ... What is your purpose? Your own people are troubling... What can I do?"
The drama orchestrated by Ramesh continued for a while amid pandemonium and finally Kurien had to call it a day.
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