Andhra legislature rocked by protests over Telangana bill

After rejecting all adjournment motions, the speaker announced that he was adjourning the house for half an hour.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the legislative council. Chairman A. Chakrapani adjourned the house for half an hour as members from Telangana and Seemandhra resorted to slogan shouting.

The union home ministry Thursday night sent the bill to the assembly. A senior official brought the bill, flying in by a special aircraft.

President Pranab Mukherjee has given time till Jan 23 to the assembly to return the bill with its members' comments.

The union cabinet Dec 5 approved the draft bill and sent it to the president with a request to refer it to the assembly under Article 3 of the Constitution.

The winter session of the assembly, which began Thursday, is scheduled to end Dec 20. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the assembly will be meeting Friday evening amid demands by the legislators from Telangana that the session be extended for a debate on the bill, and their counterparts from Seemandhra are opposing this.