Centre failed to fulfill promises to AP, Telangana: RS member

Congress members J D Seelam and Subbirami Reddy (from Andhra Pradesh) and V Hanumantha Rao (Congress member from Telangana) tropped into the well prompting Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to remark that it was "indiscipline". They were supported by several opposition parties, including Congress, SP, BSP, JD(U) and CPI(M).

Raising the issue, Reddy said both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are in a "financial crisis" as even after passage of nine months since the NDA government came to power, it has not fulfilled the promises made by the previous government for development of the regions incuding financial assistance for them.

He recalled that in his election speeches, Modi used to promise to "do much more". He also recalled that BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and M Venkaiah Naidu had favoured a 10-year financial package for the state.

"Either God or GoI (government of India) should help Andhra Pradesh," he quipped.

Seelam said both the regions are suffering. Sympathising with their demands, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the members from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have every reason to agitiate on this issue.

He said no less than the Prime Minister of India had said during his election campaign that whatever amount was committed by the government of India, will be given and measures passed by Parliament will be honoured.

"But nine months have passed and there is no mention of it in the President's address," he said.

Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said not a single day passes when members from the two regions do not expresss their agony on the issue as the government did not find a way to solve these problems after dividing the state.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tried to calm the situation by assuring members that the NDA government is committed to do everything for developing and strengthening the two states and that the Finance Minister has categorically said this in his Budget speech. However, this did not satisfy the members.

As tempers ran high in the House over the issue, BJP's Tarun Vijay said that "only anger and chaos are now the way to express one's views in the House." He went on to say more, which could not be heard because of din created by the opposition, which strongly objected to his remarks.

Opposition members alleged that Vijay had used the word "nuisance" and took strong objection to it. Kurien said if he had used the word, he should withdraw it. He added that the word will be expunged also.

"If the word nuisance is used, it is certainly improper. To refer to members as nuisance is not only unparliamentary but also improper. If you have used it, withdraw it," he said.

The BJP member then withdrew it after which normalcy returned in the House. This was the second day of protest on this issue. Yesterday, the Congress members from Andhra Pradesh had also created uproar in Rajya Sabha alleging that "injustice" was done to his state in the Union Budget and that government had "gone back" on its promises made in the Anhdra Pradesh Reorganization Act.