Telangana Bill passed by Lok Sabha: As it happened...

Zee Media Bureau/Kamna Arora & Deepak Nagpal

9:00 pm: CM Reddy set to quit Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy is expected to submit his resignation at 11:30 am tomorrow, when he will meet the state Governor, reports claim. 8:30 pm: Seemandhra leaders slam Centre Leaders from Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, cutting across party lines, and other united Andhra protagonists slammed the UPA government over the passage of Telangana bill in the Lok Sabha today. "It is a very unfortunate situation. I am saddened that a party with such a long legacy has done it," Union HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju, who hails from Coastal Andhra, said. Describing the passage of the bill amidst din and chaos as a "murder of democracy", TDP Rajya Sabha member Y S Chowdary claimed that "Congress, which is going to die, has done grave injustice to the two regions on its way." APNGOs, a powerful union of employees from Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema who have been agitating against the division, also slammed the passage of the Bill. "People will not forget this. They will teach a lesson to this government. People (of Seemandhra) need not feel sad. We have to move ahead in such a way that the loss is minimal on account of state`s division," APNGO president P Ashok Babu, who also heads the forum for protection of united AP, said. - PTI 8:00 pm: Chiranjeevi threatens to stall RS Angry over the way the Telangana Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha today, Union Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi has threatened to stall the Rajya Sabha where the Bill would be brought tomorrow. "The show has not finished. Now I am saying. Tomorrow, we have chance again to stall the Rajya Sabha," Chiranjeevi, who is a member of the upper House, said. 7:20 pm: Celebrations at Osmania University Celebrations reported outside Osmania University after Telangana Bill is cleared by Lok Sabha. 7:00 pm: Congress MLA resigns from party Congress MLA from Ramchandrapuram in East Godavari district, Thota Trimurthulu, today resigned from the primary membership of the party to protest against the division of Andhra Pradesh. "I resigned from party`s primary membership along with other activists and leaders of the district Congress to protest against Congress party`s decision to divide Andhra Pradesh. We faxed our resignation letters to Botsa Satyanarayana," he said. 6:30 pm: `TV blackout due to technical glitch` Amid widespread criticism, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has clarified that it was due to a technical problem that the proceedings of the house during the debate on the Telangana Bill could not be telecast live. The CEO of the Lok Sabha TV also said that a technical glitch prevented them from broadcasting the live proceedings of the Lok Sabha when the Bill on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh was taken up. A Lok Sabha statement also reiterated that live telecast was stalled due to a technical glitch. A probe has also been ordered into the TV blackout by the Lok Sabha secretary general. BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has condemned the blackout. “I strongly condemn the blackout of the proceedings of Lok Sabha. It was done without our knowledge. They say the blackout of Lok Sabha was due to a technical glitch. No! It was a tactical glitch.” “I am sorry to inform that Lok Sabha Secretariat is not providing us the audio or video recording of my today`s speech on Telangana Bill,” she added. Meanwhile, Union Minister Rajiv Shukla said there was a provision for Parliament proceedings to be blacked out if there are security concerns. 6:00 pm: Mamata hits out West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has slammed the government over the manner in which the Telangana Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha. “When a member asks for division of votes, they have to give it. Otherwise, it is illegal,” Mamata said. Mamata further described the situation as emergency. “I am sorry to say it is more than emergency. This is devastating,we cannot destroy provisions of the Constitution,” Mamata said. “I have sent my party MPs to meet the President and tell him not to allow this to come in Rajya Sabha,” she added. 5:45 pm: Congress playing double game, alleges Sushma Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj hit out at the government over the manner in which the Telangana Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha today. “There were problems with the way proceedings were conducted in the Lok Sabha today. Congress is playing double game on the Telangana Bill,” Sushma said. She added that the BJP was also in favour of Telangana getting Hyderabad. The BJP leader also informed that her party will move amendments on the Telangana Bill when it is taken up in the Rajya Sabha. 5:30 pm: `Match-fixing between Congress, BJP` Following the passage of the Telangana Bill in the Lok Sabha, the Left has hit out at both the Congress and the BJP. “There was match-fixing between the Congress and BJP,” CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury claimed. “The way it has happened is undemocratic. It seems the government and opposition arrived at an understanding,” he added. 5:20 pm: AP Congress minister quits In a setback to the ruling Congress in Coastal Andhra, state Infrastructure and Investment Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao today quit his post and the party in protest against the Centre going ahead with state`s division. 5:10 pm: `Telangana Bill in RS immediately` Soon after the government managed to get the Telangana Bill passed in Lok Sabha, it said the legislation will be taken up in the upper house immediately. “There were about 38 amendments that were passed. We will immediately bring the Telangana Bill in the Rajya Sabha,” Union minister Kamal Nath. Hitting out at the opposition, Kamal Nath said, “The BJP again tried to play a double game. They said they support Telangana Bill but it is unconstitutional, what does that mean?” Another Union minister V Narayanasamy said that all issues raised by members and ministers have been addressed in the Bill. “Our commitment to the people of Telangana has been fulfilled,” he said. 5:00 pm: Special package for Seemandhara Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has been quoted as saying that Seemandhra will be given a special package post bifurcation. 5:05 pm: Andhra CM Reddy calls meeting Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is expected to resign tomorrow post passage of the Telangana Bill, has called a meeting of all his MPs and MLAs in Hyderabad, reports said. 4:55 pm: Advani, Mulayam slam govt Senior BJP leader has slammed the government for the way the Telangana Bill was cleared in the Lok Sabha. Advani said he was disappointed that such a crucial bill was passed with just a voice vote. “I feel sad. This is perversion of parliamentary democracy, the way the Telangana Bill has been passed,” Advani said. Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav described the development as “unfortunate”. “It`s unfortunate; Congress wants to divide the country. Our voices were ignored and they didn`t let us speak on Telangana Bill,” Mulayam said. “We have never saw such scenes before. The Telangana Bill was passed in chaos. What happened in Lok Sabha is shameful,” Mulayam added. Asauddin Owaisi, Hyderabad MP, called the passage of the Telangana Bill as unhealthy precedent for democracy. “If the Telangana Bill is passed in Rajya Sabha, we will go to the Supreme Court,” he said. 4:50 pm: `Pepper spray` MP L Rajagopal resigns from Parliament, quits politics Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, who used pepper spray in Lok Sabha last week when the Telangana Bill was introduced, has resigned from Parliament and is quitting politics. “I felt like a misfit in Parliament, hence I have sent in my resignation,” Rajagopal said in the evening. PTI later reported that Rajagopal has decided to quit politics altogether. 4:45 pm: Black day for India, says Jagan Reddy YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy slammed the passage of the Telangana Bill in Lok Sabha, and said this shows “how democracy could be killed in broad daylight”. “TV channels were shut off. Doors were closed. People who were to represent the interests of Seemandhara were suspended. The issue was taken up against the will of the (state) Assembly. Undemocratically, today the bill has been passed in Lok Sabha. It is a black day in the history of India. We are declaring a bandh tomorrow in the state,” Jagan told reporters. 4:35 pm: Telangana bill passed in Lok Sabha by voice vote The Telangana Bill has been passed in Lok Sabha by voice vote. Meanwhile, reports are claiming that some TRS supporters have begun celebrations in some parts of Hyderabad. 4:22 pm: Dinesh Trivedi on Telangana bill Commenting on uproar in House, TMC MP Dinesh Trivedi said discussion is on but nothing can be heard. "Cameras have been shut, why? Isn`t it our right? So I walked out," Trivedi said. 4:15 pm: TMC, JD(U) walkout from LS TMC and JD(U) walkout from Lok Sabha as voting on amendments in the Telangana Bill is underway. 4:10 pm: Telangana Bill passage should not send wrong message, says Raju Holding that there are severe shortcomings in the current form of Telangana Bill, Union Minister M Pallam Raju said it should not be passed in a manner that sends a wrong message and permanently hurt sentiments. Also Read: Telangana Bill passage should not send wrong message: Raju 3:50 pm: Voting underway The Lok Sabha is likely to pass the Telangana Bill. Voting on amendments is underway. 3:45 pm: `It`s like daylight murder` Commenting on stopping of TV broadcast of Lok Sabha proceedings, TDP MP CM Ramesh said "it is like daylight murder of democracy". 3:20 pm: Martials stop suspended MPs Suspended anti-Telangana MPs tried to forcefully enter Lok Sabha, stopped by martials. 3:18 pm: Lok Sabha telecast stopped Telangana debate continues in Lok Sabha but telecast stopped on Speaker Meira Kumar`s orders. 2:17 pm: `Reddy will resign tomorrow` Andhra Pradesh lawmaker Rudraraju Padmaraju said he thinks state CM Kiran Reddy will resign tomorrow. Some reports said Reddy will address media in this regard at 10:45 am Wednesday. 1:08 pm: AP CM Reddy will resign, says minister Andhra Pradesh Law Minister Erasu Pratap Reddy confirmed that state`s Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will submit his resignation. Other leaders, including me, will also his footsteps, added EP Reddy. 1:05 pm: Naidu appeals to Modi to keep AP united In a last ditch effort, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu appealed to BJP`s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to "use his good office" to keep Andhra Pradesh united till an amicable solution is reached on the issue of creation of separate Telangana. "I met Modi. I requested him. They (Congress) are doing all these things. These are all the violations.. ... So you use your good office...You tell our party (to stop it)...," he told reporters. Also Read: Naidu appeals to Narendra Modi to keep Andhra Pradesh united 12:45 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned again Lok Sabha reconvenes. Shinde starts reading out the bill. Lok Sabha adjourned till 3 pm. 12:38 pm: Telangana bill moved Telangana bill moved for consideration and passage in Lok Sabha amid din. Shinde moved the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2014 for consideration even though ministers and MPs from Seemandhra region were in the Well opposing bifurcation of the state. 12:16 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned Lok Sabha adjourned till 12:45 pm amidst ruckus soon after Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde requested the Speaker to take up the Telangana bill. 12:12 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm after members protested the proposed formation of a separate Telangana state. As soon as the house met at noon, after the initial adjournment, the members raised slogans demanding united Andhra Pradesh and created chaos. 11:45 pm: Security tightened outside Parliament Security around the Parliament House has been stepped up and movement in the area restricted in anticipation of violent protests ahead of the discussion on the Telangana bill in the Lok Sabha. Suspended Seemandhra MPs reportedly parked their cars outside the entrance to Parliament, forcing MPs to walk. Meanwhile, police removed Seemandhra protesters from Vijay Chowk. Also Read: Security tightened around Parliament 11:42 am: BJP wants justice for Seemandhra We support Telangana state, but we want justice for Seemandhra too, said Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar. Also Read: BJP ready to support Telangana Bill but not without discussion 11:40 am: BSP in favour of Telangana Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said her party is in favour of Telangana and will support the bill. 11:10 am: Parliament adjourned till noon Both houses of Parliament were on Tuesday adjourned till noon after an uproar over the formation of Telangana state. Also Read: Telangana: Parliament adjourned after uproar 10:10 am: Telangana debate at 2:30 pm Telangana debate is likely to begin in Lok Sabha at 2:30 pm, says a news channel. Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon. 10:05 am: `Want both houses to pass Telangana bill` Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao said he wants both houses to pass Telangana bill, adding it has been our ambition for the last 60 years and many have given their life for this. 9:20 am: BJP leaders meeting in Parliament The political battle over Telangana is set to intensify today. Ahead of hectic parleys expected in Lok Sabha today, top BJP leaders are meeting inside LK Advani`s room in Parliament. Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley are among the leaders strategising over the Telangana bill. 8:10 am: Andhra Pradesh CM may quit today With the bill for formation of separate Telangana state set to come up for debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy is preparing to resign. The Chief Minister will submit his resignation once the debate begins in Lok Sabha on Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013, said sources close to the Chief Minister. Kiran Reddy`s aides were on Tuesday busy shifting his personal belongings from his office at the secretariat and also from his official residence. Kiran Reddy, who is strongly opposed to state`s bifurcation, on Monday night spoke to Chief Secretary PK Mohanty and Director General of Police B Prasada Rao, in what is believed to be his last meeting with the two top officials before submitting his resignation to the Governor. The Chief Minister also reportedly issued orders, transferring some officials close to him in his office to different departments. E Pratap Reddy, one of the state ministers from Seemandhra, said the Chief Minister would also float a new political party. 8:00 am: Lok Sabha to discuss Telangana bill The bill for creating a Telangana state will be taken up for discussion in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday even as the Congress assured its leaders from Seemandhra of justice and the BJP said it was in favour of separate state but concerns of the region should be addressed. Congress state chief Botsa Satyanarayana, meanwhile, appealed to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and chiefs of the TDP and YSR Congress to accompany him to Delhi for making last-ditch effort to stall the state`s division. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Monday assured central ministers and party MPs from Seemandhra that justice would be done to their region while carving out separate Telangana state. Earlier Monday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said Congress president Sonia Gandhi is likely to speak on the issue on Tuesday. The Congress has issued a three-line whip to its members to be present in the house on all days of the week. YSR Congress party and Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Association on Monday staged separate sit-ins in the national capital to oppose proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Monday once again rejected, as "premature", pleas seeking to stall the formation of Telengana through the passage of the bill to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.