Live reporting: National shame, as MP sprays pepper during Telangana Bill introduction

New Delhi: Indian politics touched its nadir today when an expelled Congress MP used pepper spray inside the hallow precincts of Lok Sabha, triggering unprecedented clashes and leaving 16 MPs suspended for turning parliament into a house of shame.Lagadapati Rajagopal, one of six MPs expelled from the Congress this week, was assaulted by fellow MPs and taken out of the house by marshals after he sprayed the pungent pepper at startled members to vent his anger over the introduction of Telangana Bill. In the melee, MPs came to blows, a mike was ripped out, glass shattered and a computer was smashed. Both Speaker Meira Kumar and leaders of political parties described the Thursday turmoil as a blot on Indian democracy. Janata Dal-United's Sharad Yadav branded Rajagopal's conduct as sedition."This is an attack on our democracy and it is nothing short of sedition," said Yadav, who was in the Lok Sabha when Rajagopal did the unthinkable."If the strongest action is not taken, it will be difficult for parliament to run."Rajagopal's frenzy sent scores of MPs and Lok Sabha officials -- and journalists in the media gallery -- running for cover, coughing violently and with a burning sensation in their eyes.A pungent odour enveloped the house, adding to the chaos caused by the unending sloganeering and disruptions since morning.Amid the commotion, the UPA government managed to introduce a bill that would pave the way to carve out a Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh -- precisely the issue over which Rajagopal was protesting. But the BJP and some others contested this claim.TDP member M. Venugopala, who too is against Andhra Pradesh's break up, wrenched the speaker's microphone. He refused to apologize for the behaviour.“No, I didn't do anything wrong,” the agitated MP said. “I was protesting. How dare they break up Andhra Pradesh?”Sixteen Lok Sabha MPs were suspended for five days. They included five of the Congress, four of the TDP, two of the YSR Congress including its leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy as well as five expelled by the Congress this week.The Lok Sabha did meet again but there was no normalcy. Andhra Pradesh MPs again walked towards the speaker shouting slogans, joined by Tamil Nadu members equally angry over the attacks on their fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy.Amid the renewed chaos, an Andhra MP collapsed and was rushed to hospital.If all this wasn't enough, supporters and opponents of Telangana fought with one another outside the house, leaving an unspecified number injured.The Rajya Sabha, which too witnessed noisy disturbances, was adjourned for the day. And so was the Lok Sabha.In the upper house, Congress member K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao and TDP's Y.S. Chowdhary and C.M. Ramesh stood in front of the chairman's podium holding placards that demanded a “United Andhra Pradesh!”TDP's Gundu Sudha Rani and some Congress leaders in turn flashed a placard seeking Telangana.The Lok Sabha developments drew widespread condemnation.Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said Thursday's ruckus "is a big blot on our parliamentary democracy... It is a very shameful act".Said Meira Kumar: "Our democracy is admired throughout the world. What has happened today is a blot.”Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde promised “strict action” against the MPs.Rajagopal and other MPs from the Seemandhra region are bitterly opposed to the division of Andhra Pradesh.They have been staging noisy protests in the Lok Sabha right from the day it convened Feb 5, leaving both houses crippled day after day.The BJP and the CPI-M blamed the Congress for the chaos, saying it was not unable to rein in its own ministers and MPs. BJP leader L.K. Advani, one of India's most experienced parliamentarians, described the events as “disgraceful”.There will be no parliament session Friday on account of Ravidas Jayanti. Here is live reporting of today's events: 4 pm: Leaders of BJP, SP, BJD, CPI and TMC meet Lok Sabha Speaker saying they do not accept that Telangana bill was introduced.4: 05 pm: YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy breaks down as he speaks to reporters. Says, the way government rammed the Telangana Bill inside LS was not even done by the Nazis in Germany. Demands, the bill be reintroduced in LS. 2:20 pm: Speaker suspends 17 MPs for unruly behaviour inside Lok Sabha 2:21 pm: Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj suspects today's pepper spray incident could have been stage-managed by ruling party. Says, BJP will no more talk to the Congress over running Parliament.2 pm: Lok Sabha reassembles after the unprecedented pepper spray incident. Some members opposing Telangana still shout slogans. Speaker Meira Kumar names and suspends the MPs who obstructed proceedings. Adjourns House till 3 pm1:05 pm: Action will be taken, Telangana bill has been introduced and it is now the property of the House: Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde 1 pm: I am too anguished, I am too much in pain: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar12:46 pm: It is a big blot on parliamentary democracy: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath.12:47 pm: Strong action will be taken against erring MPs as it was an attempt to "kill" members: minister of state Rajiv Shukla. 12:35 pm: Many MPs holding handkerchieves to their eyes and mouth were escorted towards ambulances of RML Hospital standing outside. 12: 36 pm: Members said, L. Rajagopal used the pepper spray for nearly three minutes among the members, who were dumbstruck on seeing their fellow MP indulging in such an act. One of the anti-Telangana members smashed his fist on the reporter's glass table, smashing it into smithereens. Another member broke the mike and tried to shove it inside his abdomen. Congress MP Raj Babbar tried to control the anti-Telangana MPs, but he too was shoved aside. Since morning, security guards at Parliament House were carrying photos of 4 anti-Telangana MPs with them, and trying to frisk them, but Rajagopal managed to sneak in the pepper spray. 12: 40 pm: Congress MP Satpal Maharaj : Speaker Meira Kumar should suspend these guilty members, only then can the House proceedings resume. 12: 30 pm: Minister of State for Home RPN Singh said, the government succeded in introducing the Telangana Bill as promised but what happened was unfortunate. 12:32 pm: "Normally MPs are not frisked properly while entering Parliament, and the MP took advantage of that", said Singh. Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan said, this drama should end. "We had asked the government to pass the financial bills only in this session, but the government was hell bent on introducing the Telangana Bill".

Live reporting: National shame, as MP sprays pepper during Telangana Bill introduction

New Delhi: Indian politics touched its nadir today when an expelled Congress MP used pepper spray inside the hallow precincts of Lok Sabha, triggering unprecedented clashes and leaving 16 MPs suspended for turning parliament into

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