The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned twice this morning due to a furore created by legislators over a host of issues including the raging Telangana statehood demand.

While the separate statehood demand continued to be dominant, members of Telugu Desam Party, CPI and CPM raised several issues such as Friday’s firing incident in Srikakulam district and farmers’ suicides in the state.

Members of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti rushed to the Well of the House holding placards and demanding the creation of a separate state. The TDP rebel MLA from Telangana, Mr Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy, who has been on the side of the TRS for some time now, too joined them.

Thirteen Congress legislators from Telangana also raised “Jai Telangana” slogans and were holding placards in support of the separatist demand.

The Government’s chief whip, Mr Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, appealed to his party colleagues to return to their seats but they did not relent.

The Legislative Affairs Minister, Mr D. Sridhar Babu, sought to re-assure the agitating members that the Telangana issue could be discussed in the House in detail.

“The Government will also respond to it,” he said and urged the members to let the House transact normal business.

The unrelenting members forced the first adjournment for 30 minutes but the House re-assembled only after 110 minutes. After re-assembling, TDP members protested against the Srikakulam firing incident, farmers’ suicides and the alleged “uncertainty” in the state.

CPI and the CPM members demanded a discussion on the Srikakulam incident through an adjournment motion, which the Deputy Speaker, Mr Nadendla Manohar, disallowed.

“It has become a war of placards in the House,” Mr Manohar remarked as the TRS members remained in the Well while the Telangana Congress MLAs continued to stand holding placards spelling out their demand.

“People have sent us to the Assembly to discuss their issues, not for adjournments,” the Deputy Speaker said and appealed to the members to let the House take up listed business.

With none relenting, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the proceedings for half an hour for the second time.

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