TDP legislators marshalled out after they refuse to budge from Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha witnessed a spectacle on the penultimate day of the budget session as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members protested by refusing to leave the House even after it was adjourned at 2:35 pm.

Lok Sabha members of TDP chose Parliament’s Central Hall as the venue of their sit-in protest.

RS Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien and Secretary General Desh Deepak Verma met the protesting MPs, requesting them to vacate the house but they refused to budge, saying they were fighting a ‘Dharma Yudh’ for their state and its people and would continue unless their demand of a special status was met.

The drama ended when they were forcibly marshaled out of Parliament around 8:15 pm after a nod from the offices of RS Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

TDP’s parliamentary leader Y S Chowdhary said, “We are fighting for Andhra Pradesh’s five crore people. (Modi govt) is not fulfilling our demands. We have no option but to stage protests.”    

RS continued to witness loud protests with AIADMK and TDP entering the well pressing for a Cauvery management board and special status for Andhra. After repeatedly requesting them to go back to their seats, an exasperated deputy chairman P J Kurien threatened them with suspension: “Should I proceed with Rule 256?” . But the MPs dared him to do so and their slogans only grew louder. Most Congress members were back in their seats demanding the chair to take up the apex court order on the SC/ST Act first, but the government wanted the anti-graft bill to be taken up.