9 Seemandhra MPs Suspended From Lok Sabha

Nine MPs from the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions were suspended for the remaining monsoon session, for disrupting the proceedings of the Lok Sabha in Delhi on Monday.

The suspended MPs include A Sai Pratap, Anantha Venkatrami Reddy, Lagadapati Rajagopal, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and K Bapi Raju of the Congress party, and Nimmala Kristappa, M Venugopal Reddy, K N Rao and N Sivaprasad of the Telugu Desam Party.

As soon as the House met on Monday, the TDP members rushed to the well in protest against the Centre's proposal to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. A few moments later, they were joined by the Congress MPs, who were raising slogans of "Jai Samaikyandhra" and "We want justice".

TDP MP Sivaprasad wore a mask of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to convey that she was against the division of Andhra Pradesh. He removed the mask later, when some Congress MPs raised objection to it.

The MPs ignored speaker Meira Kumar's repeated appeals to resume their seats and allow the smooth functioning of the House. With the Seemandhra MPs showing no signs of backing out, the Speaker suspended them under Rule 374(A) for the rest of the monsoon session, which is to conclude on Friday.

The House was then adjourned till 2pm.

A similar incident happened on August 23, when nine MPs from the Seemandhra region were suspended for five days for stalling the proceedings of the House. (INN)