It was virtually a ‘hit and run’ interim rail budget speech by Rail Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, who was racing against time to avoid a head-on collision with the ‘T’ Express in Lok Sabha. Along with others, shouting him down were his own party MPs from Andhra, including Central Ministers, such as Chiranjeevi, KS Rao, D Purandeshwari and Pallam Raju.
However, Kharge seemed to have come prepared and read out the highlighted portions of his speech in break-neck speed. Sources said this was perhaps the first time that a Railway Minister was forced to lay on the table his budget speech, which was taken as read.
Earlier, when the Lok Sabha re-assembled at noon after an adjournment, six expelled Congress MPs from Seemandhra rushed into the well, shouting slogans for a ‘United Andhra’. On the other side, Telugu Desam Party, YSR Congress and Telengana Rahstra Samithy MPs were on their feet, adding to the ruckus. A TDP member even tore some papers in the House, almost leading to a clash, as some Congress MPs sprang towards him in protest.
Senior Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav, MPs from the Left, Trinamool Congress and Congress stepped in to reason out with the agitating MPs from Andhra, who have been favouring and opposing the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, Congress leader Jagdambika Pal, who walked into the well and was trying his bit to control the situation, was gently tapped by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, after which he beat a hasty retreat and stayed put on his seat till Kharge’s speech ended.
As soon as Kharge finished, CPI(M)’s MB Rajesh from Kerala, Kalyan Banerjee of TMC and some AIADMK members rushed toward Kharge accusing him of discrimination’. “Betrayal: What about the Palakkad coach factory?” said a poster carried by Rajesh, after Kharge announced that coach factories in Rae Bareli, Dhankuni and Chapra had become functional.
Ever since the extended Winter session of Parliament began on February 5, there has been consistent disruption over Telangana and other issues. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister, who was witness to the proceedings, said his “heart bleeds” to see what is happening in the House.
The high toll that frequent disruptions have taken on House functioning was evident by the Revised List of Business on Wednesday. It had about 32 statements showing ‘reasons for delay’ in laying papers!