Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Thursday tabled the Telangana statehood bill in the Rajya Sabha amidst protests.
Some members opposed to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh walked towards Shinde in an effort to interrupt him, but were stopped by MPs from the Congress and those favouring a separate Telangana state.
Members from the Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (U) and Shiv Sena described the tabling of the bill as unconstitutional.
The BJP has just done a huge about turn and have opposed the tabling of the Telangana bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Massive ruckus in the upper house of Parliament prevented the session from continuing, but leader of the opposition Arun Jaitley stood up and said that he was opposed to the tabling of the bill on constitutional grounds.
The Home Minister had by then, already officially tabled the bill, with a de facto bodyguard of other MPs.
The BJP has already moved a number of amendments to the bill, much to the frustration of the Congress.
"We have listed the Telangana bill in Rajya Sabha and we would be attempting to get it passed. The question of amendments at this stage does not arise," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters.
Criticising the BJP, he said the opposition party had moved no amendment in Lok Sabha, "(but) they suddenly changed their mind and want to move amendments".
He said BJP voted against similar amendments moved by members of other parties in Lok Sabha.
"If they didn't do it (move amendments) in Lok Sabha, I don't see why they should do it in Rajya Sabha. I have requested them to let the bill be passed," Nath said.
