Violence in Parliament over Telangana: How the day progressed

New Delhi: 4:15 pm: Defending his actions, L Rajagopal said, "This government does not have courage to face our no-confidence motion. I used pepper spray to defend myself. Entire Congress leadership is responsible for this mess. Congress should realise that they have made mistake."

Rajagopal also said that he is not worried about his political future. "Government does not have time to sit with its own MPs, they want to sit with opposition not us. They should be ashamed of themselves," he added.

3:02 pm: The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day. Government sources say the Telangana Bill will be listed for consideration and passing after the vote on account and discussion on the Railway Budget next week.

2:39 pm: Andhra Pradesh CM Kiran Kumar Reddy has condemned the ugly scenes in Parliament and has hit out at the government.

"Whatever happened in Parliament is unfortunate. Opposing opinions should have been discussed. The way the Bill was introduced is the most undemocratic way. Cabinet ministers have never come in the well, now they have, which indicates how the high command bulldozed its way," Reddy said.

He also questioned the move to hold talks with the BJP. "Why is my party having lunch and dinner with a party that they themselves term communal. What is the need to get Opposition on board when your own party and legislators are not happy with the decision," he said.

However, he has not yet decided on his resignation. "Resignation is one of my options, but will discuss with all my MLAs and MPs. It has to be a collective decision," Reddy said.

2:05 pm: While the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till Monday, the Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 3 pm. Seemandhra MP L Rajagopal and others have been suspended.

Suspended TDP MPs: Kristappa Nimmala (Hindupur), Konakalla Narayana Rao (Machilipatnam), Nama Nageswara Rao (Khammam), Ramesh Rathod (Adilabad), Modugula Venugopala Reddy (Narasaraopet), Naramalli Sivaprasad (Chittoor)

Suspended YSR Congress MPs: Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy (Nellore) and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (Kadapa).

1:42 pm: "Three MPs came to us with irritation on the face, eyes, mouth. We have given them medicines, they are now stable and under observation," said HS Khar, Medical Superintendent, RML Hospital.

1:31 pm: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has blamed the Congress for the pandemonium in the House. "Even before the Speaker entered the House, there was ruckus. After the Speaker entered, there was more ruckus. Spray was released and people started coughing. I believe this was a part of the game plan," she said.

She also claimed the Bill was not introduced as per due procedure. "Don't know when the Speaker came and the Bill was introduced. No papers were laid in the House. We are not against the introduction of the Bill. But we never imagined that the Bill would be introduced in such a way. We will not talk to the government in any form," she said.

1:30 pm: Sources in Delhi Police say a criminal case will be registered in this matter only if the Speaker asks them to register one.

1:11 pm: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar rushed home as she felt the effect of the pepper spray in her office connected to the House. "What happened today is a blot. It has shamed us. Our Parliamentary democracy is respected throughout the world. I am too much in pain. This is not the way to behave," Meira Kumar said.

1:10 pm: "I pulled the microphone that was in front of the Secretary General. It may have looked like a knife. I did not bring any knife inside the House. I was beaten up by 10 MPs, I will complain," said TDP MP Venugopal Reddy.

1:03 pm: TDP MP Venugopal Reddy has denied brandishing a knife saying it was just a microphone.

12:57 pm: CPI member Gurudas Dasgupta has demanded the arrest of L Rajagopal. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly has been adjourned sine die.

12:47 pm: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has called the Lok Sabha ruckus a blot on Parliamentary democracy. "These circumstances are a big blot on Parliamentary democracy. Many party leaders have asked me to tell the Speaker to take action against these MPs," Kamal Nath said.

12:44 pm: Congress MP JD Seelam appealed to Seemandhra MPs to maintain calm. "Very unfortunate this happened. I appeal to Telugus not to get emotional, we will sort out issues," he said.

12:42 pm: "Microphones were pulled, papers torn, altercation happened. Pepper spray was sprayed by MPs. I wasn't directly affected. Sushma Swaraj was also injured," said Lok Sabha MP Rajender Aggarwal.

12:37 pm: TDP MP Venugopal Reddy also reportedly brandished a knife inside the House.

12:32 pm: All Parliament security officers are moving around the premises with a cloth covering their nose and coughing.

12:29 pm: More ambulances have been called to Parliament House. Congress MP Vinoo Pandey is among those injured. Marshals had to be brought in to overpower clashing MPs.

12:26 pm: Rajagopal had to be rescued by watch and ward staff after he was attacked by other members after spraying.

12:19 pm: Some MPs also came to blows, hitting each other after the Lok Sabha adjourned. At least 3 MPs including L Rajagopal, who used a pepper spray, have been taken in an ambulance for medical aid.

12:14 pm: After Telangana Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha, expelled Congress MP L Rajagopal used pepper spray in the House, leading to chaos. Some MPs also came to blows. There were ugly scenes in the Rajya Sabha too.

12:01 pm: Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has tabled the Telangana Bill in the Lok Sabha, following which the House has been adjourned. In the Rajya Sabha, for the second time in a week, protesting MPs pulled the Deputy Chairperson's microphone.

11:50 am: There were dramatic scenes outside Parliament as an altercation took place between pro and anti-Telangana protesters. Meanwhile, four Seemandhra MLAs of the Congress - Adala Prabhakar, Sridhar Krishna Reddy, R Suryaprakash Rao, B Satyanand Rao - have also resigned protesting against Andhra bifurcation.

11:29 am: Expelled Congress MP Lagdapati Rajagopal has threatened that he will not let the Congress succeed in introducing the Telangana Bill. "The government won't succeed in introducing the Bill. It's a minority government which has failed to listen to its own ministers. If they do, we will do anything at that time. Wait and see what we do," he said.

11:18 am: Sources say that the government has decided not to suspend or use marshals against protesting Seemandhra MPs.

11:07 am: The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon after protests against Telangana by Seemandhra MPs.

11:02 am: While the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till noon after uproar over Telangana by Seemandhra MPs, there's ruckus in the Lok Sabha as well. The Prime Minister is worried about the actions of some Seemandhra MPs who threatened self immolation on the floor of the House on Wednesday.

10:58 am: The government has decided to table the Telangana Bill on Thursday in the Lok Sabha at 12 noon. A bandh has been announced in coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema against the Centre's move.

10:35 am: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath met Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to decide whether to table the Telangana Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday or not. Sources say the Congress is keen on bringing the Bill on Thursday, but the government is divided. Some feel that it should be tabled after vote on account is cleared, say sources.

The government is reportedly worried about the actions of Seemandhra MPs who have been stalling Parliament ever since it reconvened last week.

In a last minute effort to stitch up Telangana, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met top leaders of the BJP over lunch on Wednesday. According to reports, the government is ready to sacrifice some of the pending anti-corruption bills, if the BJP allows the smooth passage of Telangana Bill.

Sources say the BJP does not want to delay the Telangana Bill to the next session that will see a new government. Sources say the BJP has assured the Prime Minister of cooperation but also said justice must be done to the Seemandhra region.

The BJP has been supporting Telangana. But, it had questioned the manner in which the Bill is being tabled. It had also questioned the Constitutional validity of declaring Hyderabad as joint capital of both the states. Constitution makes it clear that administration of only a Union Territory can be handled by the Governor. Constitutional amendment is required to make any place a Union Territory. Constitutional amendment requires a two third votes in Parliament and the people of Telangana are against making Hyderabad a Union Territory.

The Congress has already expelled 5 of its MPs from Seemandhra region for moving a no confidence motion against their own government. Angry Seemandhra MPs successfully forced Railways minister M Mallikarjuna Kharge to cut short his interim Budget speech.

If the Telangana Bill is tabled in the Parliament, almost all Seemandhra MPs are expected to create a huge ruckus.

Congress general secretary in charge of AP Digvijaya Singh sympathises with them. He said, "Concerns of Seemandhra leaders justified. As Hyderabad is going to Telangana, they should be compensated for the revenue loss. The government committed to addressing their concerns. The Finance Commission will take this up in October. No constitution amendment is required for this. I don't want to comment on the government's handling of the bill in Parliament."

Union Ministers like MM Pallamraju who hail from the Seemandhra region are openly attacking their own government.

In Andhra Pradesh, the vote on account concludes on Thursday. Speculation is rife that the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy may resign.

####Newsroom buzz with Arunima: Never seen such things neither on TV nor in the hallows of democracy