TDP MPs force RS adjournment

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) forced an adjournment in the Rajya Sabha during the first half of the session, after it insisted on a debate on their demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh, on Monday instead of on Tuesday, as decided by the chairperson.

Soon after Rajya Sabha chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu admitted the TDP’s notice for discussion for Tuesday and under Rule 176, instead of Rule 168 as demanded, party MPs demanded that the discussion be held on Monday itself.

The House was adjourned till 12 when TDP MPs and YSR Congress MPs stood in the well of the House raising slogans.

Naidu later said he was willing for a discussion on the issue last week itself but TDP leaders wanted it slated for Monday and on Sunday, they sought its listing on July 24.

“I have admitted the notice under rule 176,” he said.

Rule 176 allows a short duration discussion to be raised by a member on a matter of urgent public importance.

Later, during Zero Hour, Congress leader Anand Sharma raised the issue of parallel FIRs being filed on the same alleged offence being registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) , the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Without naming a specific case, he said the practise seemed to be “targeted vendetta” to which, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested in the house.