Hyderabad: The controversial Polavaram Bill for inclusion of seven mandals of Khammam district in Andhra Pradesh was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by home minister, Mr Rajnath Singh amid loud protests by TRS and BJD MPs.
The Bill replacing the Ordinance was originally listed for Monday, but was withdrawn by the home minister as the President’s assent had not reached yet. With the nod from Rashtrapati Bhavan coming in on Monday evening, the NDA government listed the Bill in the revised list of business for Tuesday.
When the House met at 2 pm on Tuesday to take up the listed business, which included the Polavaram Bill, all TRS MPs, joined by MPs from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, rushed to well of the House and started shouting slogans against the move.
Telugu Desam members from Seemandhra along with two BJP members meanwhile rushed to the well raising slogans in support of the Polavaram Bill.
Amidst the din, Mr Rajnath Singh sought introduction of the Bill and the Speaker obtained “a yes” in favour of the introduction. The House was adjourned following this as the MPs continued their protests against the Bill, shouting “Jai Telangana” slogans.
The House had to be adjourned twice more, before calling it a day, as the MPs did not let up their protests every time the House reassembled.
Making a brief speech, TRS member B. Vinod Kumar said that the NDA government was determined to go the previous Congress-led UPA government’s way by bringing the Bill without sending it to the newly-formed Telangana Legislature for seeking its opinion.
He said that this would once and for all seal the fate of innocent tribals who were living in the seven mandals. He demanded retention of the seven mandals in Khammam district so that the Telangana government could ensure construction of the dam.
