Telangana issue figures in Parliament, RS adjourns briefly

With passions running high in Andhra Pradesh over the Telangana issue, Parliament today expressed concern over TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao's deteriorating health as Rajya Sabha witnessed an adjournment after BJP pressed for an immediate response from government.

BJP members forced adjournment of the Upper House for a brief period pressing for government's response on the issue of Telangana and the health of Rao. They stormed the well and raised slogans after M Venkaiah Naidu demanded that Home Minister P Chidambaram should make a statement.

In Lok Sabha, Speaker Meira Kumar was joined by Leader of Opposition L K Advani and several other leaders in expressing concern over the health of Rao, whose fast-unto-death for a separate state entered the 11th day today. "It is the wish of the entire House that he regains good health soon," she said.

Several leaders appealed Rao to end his fast.

The occasion was also utilised by some of these leaders to demand that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh convene an all-party meeting and intervene immediately to resolve the issue in view of the "highly volatile" situation in Andhra Pradesh.

Kumar said Rao is an honourable member of the House, which is concerned over his health that has become "quite serious" in the wake of his fast.

Advani said his party colleague Venkaiah Naidu met Rao last evening and felt his condition was deteriorating.

Urging the government to immediately intervene in the matter, he said "the health of Rao is as important as the issue of Telangana".