In an open defiance, Union Minister M M Pallam Raju today questioned the government's hurry to push the Telangana bill and said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's disapproval of disruptions in Parliament was not "fair".
Raju, Minister for Human Resource Development, who hails from Seemandhra region, insisted that the bill for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh is "absolute injustice" in the current form and it should not become a reality.
He justified the uproar created by his party colleagues from Seemandhra, including four ministers, who trooped into the Well of Lok Sabha disrupting the presentation of Interim Rail Budget, saying that it is expected of them to put up a "final battle" in Lok Sabha against the proposed division."I do not think the comment is fair just to isolate what is happening today. It has been happening in the House.
Certainly, I think there has been a failing somewhere," Raju said.
"It is not just today. It happened in 15th Lok Sabha and it has happened on multiple issues," the minister said.
He was replying to a question about the disapproval by the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath of four Union ministers from Seemandhra region storming the Well in Lok Sabha along with other members over the Telangana issue.
"My heart bleeds to see what is happening in the House.
It is sad for democracy that such things are happening even after all appeals for calm," the Prime Minister said soon after the ruckus in the Lower House.
Kamal Nath said it is unfortunate and will set a bad precedent for Lok Sabha in the future.
Defending his colleagues, Raju said the manner in which some issues have been handled has not been right and there is widespread perception that injustice is being done.
"And, therefore that public pressure translates on to the elected representatives and it is expected of us to put up a final battle in the House," he said.
