Former MPs Blame Pepper-Spray Attack for Accelerating Andhra Pradesh's Bifurcation

Vijayawada: Many former MPs opined that Lagadapati Rajagopal’s pepper-spray attack in the Lok Sabha made matters worse and led to the eventual bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The Congress MPs said that they were taking up the proposed bifurcation issue with MPs from other parties and states to mobilise their support once the bill for setting up a separate Telangana was put to vote, when Rajagopal’s theatrics hastened the bifurcation process.

Though Rajagopal justified his move claiming that it was a self-defence reaction, his act lowered the dignity of the Parliament.

Former MP G.V. Harsha Kumar recalled how he was witness to the attack in Lok Sabha as stated by Rajagopal. Several MPs were targeted and injured and it was difficult to identify the attackers. Moreover, the ‘victims’ were desperate to protect themselves. A few had to be hospitalised in the ruckus, he said.