The Lower House, expected to take up debate on the draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2013, after a two-week break, was adjourned for the day by Speaker Nadendla Manohar, whose repeated appeals to the agitating members for order fell into deaf ears.
As soon as the assembly met, the Seemandhra MLAs were on their feet, and later gathered around the Speaker’s podium and raised slogans in support of keeping the state united. Two adjournments by Manohar did not help matters and the assembly was adjourned for the day.
Even as noisy scenes were witnessed in the assembly, bandh was observed in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema against the House taking up debate on the Bill, which seeks to create Telangana state. The draft legislation, sent by the President last month, is returnable by 23 January.
Activists of TDP, YSR Congress and the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) association, who are in the forefront of the agitation against division of the state, organised protests in the two regions.
Schools, colleges and commercial establishments remained shut at many places and the services of state-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corp (APSRTC) remained suspended.
The shutdown evoked partial response at places such as Vijayawada where the bus services were restored by afternoon and educational institutions functioned normally.
As soon as the assembly met, the Seemandhra MLAs were on their feet, and later gathered around the Speaker’s podium and raised slogans in support of keeping the state united. Two adjournments by Manohar did not help matters and the assembly was adjourned for the day.
Even as noisy scenes were witnessed in the assembly, bandh was observed in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema against the House taking up debate on the Bill, which seeks to create Telangana state. The draft legislation, sent by the President last month, is returnable by 23 January.
Activists of TDP, YSR Congress and the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) association, who are in the forefront of the agitation against division of the state, organised protests in the two regions.
Schools, colleges and commercial establishments remained shut at many places and the services of state-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corp (APSRTC) remained suspended.
The shutdown evoked partial response at places such as Vijayawada where the bus services were restored by afternoon and educational institutions functioned normally.