Telangana ruckus in Parliament: As it happened

Zee Media Bureau/Deepak Nagpal/Hemant Abhishek

8:30 pm: Congress favoured "strictest possible punishment" against its MP from Seemandhra L Rajagopal for the pepper incident, saying it will be the "end of democracy" if such "internal attacks" recur. "I cannot find strong enough words to condemn such unspeakable denigration of the hallowed portals, the very foundation of Parliamentary democracy. We unequivocally condemn it. Such individuals and such incidents irrespective of provocations, irrespective of political differences, irrespective of the issues, make us into a laughing stock...All sane persons, who believe in demcoracy should condemn it," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singvi said. 6:00 pm: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said ugly scenes in the Lok Sabha were the fallout of the Centre`s "bungling" in handling the sensitive state bifurcation issue. "The Centre bungled up the state bifurcation issue from the start and at every stage. The current situation is a result of that (bungling). It should understand that," Kiran said while terming the incidents as "very unfortunate". 5:00 pm: L Rajagopal, the expelled Congress MP, says he did not want to use any lethal weapon, so he used the pepper spray in the Parliament. 3:50 pm: BJP says it supports Telangana. It`s unfortunate that after Bill`s introduction they are opposing it. It exposes their doublespeak, says Kamal Nath. 3:40 pm: The government is claiming to have introduced the Telangana Bill, this claim is baseless. We have registered our protest with the Lok Sabha Speaker, says Sushma Swaraj. 3:30 pm: Leaders of BJP, SP, BJD, CPI and TMC meet Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, say they do not accept that Telangana Bill was introduced. 3:10 pm: TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao condemns pepper spraying incident inside Lok Sabha, demands strong action against MPs involved. 3:01 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned till Monday. 2:45 pm: TDP MP K Narayana Rao suffered heart attack, treatment is underway and he is out of danger now, says ANI quoting TDP`s Ramesh Rathod. 2:15 pm: It is a sad day, such unruly behaviour by an MP has put Indian democracy to shame. We have to take strong action, says Digvijay Singh. 2:15 pm: TDP member K Narayana Rao rushed to RML Hospital as he collapsed in Lok Sabha after apparently consuming something. 2:05 pm: Seemandhara MP L Rajagopal, 17 others suspended from Lok Sabha for rest of the session under Rule 374 for creating ruckus. 2:01 pm: Uproar continues in Parliament; Rajya Sabha adjourned till Monday, Lok Sabha till 3 pm. 2:00 pm: Proceedings resume in both Houses of Parliament. 1:55 pm: YSR Cong chief Jaganmohan Reddy questions the way Telangana Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha, says he will move court. 1:47 pm: This is terrorising Parliamentary democracy, says Union Minister Veerappa Moily. 1:45 pm: Three MPs came to us with irritation on the face, in eyes and mouth. We have given them medicines. They are now stable and under observation, says HS Khar, medical superintendent, RML Hospital. 1:42 pm: They have broken all Parliamentary norms while trying to introduce the Telangana Bill. We will not talk to the government in any form, says Swaraj. 1:41 pm: Papers should have been tabled before the session commenced. Also, there was no supplementary agenda, says Swaraj. 1:40 pm: BJP leader Sushma Swaraj says Congress solely responsible for what happened today in Parliament. It`s a Congress conspiracy, part of the government`s gameplan, alleges Swaraj. 1:35 pm: The government should just pass the vote-on-account and nothing else amid this chaos in Parliament, advises Advani. 1:35 pm: It was disgraceful for Parliament, says BJP leader LK Advani. 1:30 pm: Congress is solely responsible for what is happening in the House, alleges Venkaiah Naidu of the BJP. 1:20 pm: The Speaker says she will consult leaders for initiating action against those involved in the fracas. 1:20 pm: What has happened has shamed us. It is a blot on democracy, says Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. 1:10 pm: TDP MP Venugopal Reddy denies brandishing knife inside Lok Sabha. “I want to prevent the Bill (Telangana). I have moved a no-confidence motion. I pulled out the microphone, it was not a knife,” says Reddy. 1:08 pm: Speaker Meira Kumar rushed home as she felt the effect of the pepper spray in her office connected to the Lok Sabha. 1:05 pm: Telangana clashes in Parliament very shameful, I am hurt after seeing what happened, BJP president Rajnath Singh tells a news channel. 1:02 pm: Smell of the pepper spray even felt outside the House, reports PTI. 1:00 pm: CPI member Gurudas Dasgupta demands arrest of L Rajagopal. 12:58 pm: We will take action, assures Shinde. 12:58 pm: Telangana Bill has been introduced in Parliament and it is now the property of the House, says Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. 12:53 pm: Government, Home Ministry and police will take action in accordance with the directions of the Speaker, says Kamal Nath. 12:52 pm: I would recommend to the Speaker strongest action against these MPs, says Kamal Nath. 12:52 pm: Kamal Nath says they will meet the Speaker to decide on action against erring MPs. 12:51 pm: The MPs were not frisked as rules expect them to maintain dignity of the House, says Kamal Nath. 12:51 pm: I am told there was gas, knives, other materials as well, says Kamal Nath. 12:50 pm: I feel ashamed that such incident has taken place. This negates the fundamentals of our democracy, says Kamal Nath. 12:50 pm: It is a big blot on Parliamentary democracy, says Union Minister Kamal Nath. 12:48 pm: I feel sorry that this happened in a country like ours. This is totally unacceptable, says former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee. 12:47 pm: Strong action will be taken against erring MPs as it was an attempt to "kill" members, says Union Minister Rajiv Shukla. 12:45 pm: Union Minister Kapil Sibal and other officials confirm Telangana Bill has been tabled in the Lok Sabha. 12:40 pm: PTI says the impact of the spray was so severe that even mediapersons in the press gallery atop the Chair started coughing. 12:35 pm: Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2.00 pm. 12:35 pm: TDP MP CM Ramesh tried to pluck away mike of the Chair in Rajya Sabha protesting against Telangana, reports PTI. 12:30 pm: Reports say TDP MP Venugopal Reddy even waved knife during commotion in Lok Sabha. 12:30 pm: It is a very sad day, says LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan 12:20 pm: TDP MP Venugopal Reddy broke mike on Secretary General`s table in Lok Sabha, L Rajagopal smashed glass on the table causing commotion, reports PTI on sequence of events that took place in Lok Sabha. 12:18 pm: It was not immediately clear whether Telangana Bill was introduced, though Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde rose to do so, says PTI. 12:16 pm: Hell broke loose as Rajagopal spread the spray causing severe coughing among members with some looking uncomfortable, reports PTI. 12:15 pm: Vijaywada MP Rajagopal had to be rescued by watch and ward staff after he was attacked by other members after the spraying, reports PTI. 12:15 pm: One MP sprayed something in the House, everyone started coughing. It`s sad, it`s not a temple of democracy any more, says TMC`s Dinesh Trivedi. 12:12 pm: At least three Lok Sabha MPs rushed to hospital in ambulances for medical attention. 12:08 pm: Ruckus in Rajya Sabha as well as MPs from Seemandhara troop into the Well of the House, attempt to break Chairman`s microphone. 12:06 pm: MPs hold placards, shout slogans in Rajya Sabha in favour of a united Andhra. 12:05 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned soon following chaos. 12:03 pm: Marshals called in as some MPs enter into scuffle. Rajagopal also injured, say reports. 12:03 pm: Parliament doctor immediately rushed inside Lok Sabha. 12:03 pm: MPs seen coughing, covering their eyes as pepper spray is used in Lok Sabha. 12:02 pm: Expelled Congress MP L Rajagopal, from Vijaywada, uses pepper spray to disrupt proceedings in Lok Sabha as Shinde rises to introduce Telangana Bill. 12:00 noon: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde tables Telangana Bill in Lok Sabha, say TV reports. 11:50 am: Clashes reported between pro- and anti-Telangana supporters outside Parliament at Vijay Chowk. 11:45 am: Four Congress MLAs from Seemandhara region resign from the Assembly and quit party in protest against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. 11:05 am: Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 noon amid uproar over Telangana and other issues. 11:00 am: Latest reports say the Telangana Bill will be tabled today in Lok Sabha, at around 12 noon. The Bill has been listed as supplementary agenda. 10:42 am: We are still holding discussions on the Telangana Bill, says Kamal Nath. 10:40 am: Reports suggest the UPA government is now mulling to table the Telangana Bill in Parliament on Monday. 10:35 am: Union Ministers Kamal Nath and Sushilkumar Shinde meet to discuss whether to table the Telangana Bill in Lok Sabha today. 10:30 am: Normal life is thrown out of gear in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh due to a bandh called against the Centre`s planned move to table the Telangana Bill in Parliament today.