Venkaiah fails to resolve Andhra special status issue
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed pandemonium over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh even as the attempts to resolve the issue by chairman M Venkaiah Naidu failed.
Soon after the House reassembled, members from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana across party lines raked up the issue of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and demanded a solution to the crisis. In an attempt to resolve the issue, Naidu allowed Union minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) member YS Chowdhury to give suggestion over the demand of special status to Andhra Pradesh.
“If government is willing there are some issues of special status category. My request to the government is that if they can commit to resolve the issue in 15 days. The finance minister should address this concern in his reply to the budget speech,” Chowdhury said.
Responding to the demand, minister of state for parliamentary affairs Vijay Goel assured that during the budget speech, the finance minister will address the issue.
But some of the members, including Yuvajana Shramika Rythu (YSR) Congress, raised objections to Chowdhury’s
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remarks.
“TDP is an ally of BJP and part of the government, which has approved the President’s address. How can a minister differ from it now?” YSRCP member Vijaysai Reddy asked.
The chairman then clarified that the minister had given a suggestion to find a solution. “There is no constitutional misuse. If anyone wants to give suggestion, he can give. A minister as a member of his political party can give suggestion. He has not protested but gave suggestions to resolve the issue,” he said.
But the opposition members were on their feet and continued with their protest. Naidu then adjourned the house till 2pm, saying “You don’t want a solution. I am adjourning the House.”
Earlier, when the House met for the day, it was adjourned till 12pm after Congress members created a ruckus over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks against Renuka Chowdhury’s laughter.