Rajya Sabha: Discuss the killing of 20 woodcutters in Andhra Pradesh, demands CPI

New Delhi: CPI on Friday demanded a discussion on the encounter of 20 woodcutters by police in Andhra Pradesh earlier this month in the Rajya Sabha. When the House met, D Raja of CPI said he has given a notice under rule 267 for suspension of business to take up the issue of “cold blooded killing of 20 woodcutters” in Andhra Pradesh on 7 April and demanded that “the House should discuss it.” [caption id=“attachment_2211240” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  PTI image.[/caption] Deputy chairman P J Kurien asked him to give a call attention notice on the issue and said that the “chairman will consider.” Derek O’Brien of Trinamool Congress said a call attention on the net neutrality issue has to be taken up before 6 May. Earlier, chairman Hamid Ansari made a reference to the killing of 48 persons in Bihar on 21 April in hailstorm. Loss of precious life and property was indeed tragic and unfortunate,” he said after which members rose in their places to observe silence. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi congratulated Rajya Sabha staff for renovating the House while preserving the old structure and heritage. From carpets to doom have been done up without causing any damage to the heritage structure, he said. On business for next week, he said railway appropriation bill and the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Bill will be taken up. Besides, discussion of working of the ministeries of law, petroleum and external affairs is also listed, he said. PTI