Union ministers will disrupt budget speech: 'Pepper spray MP' L Rajagopal

Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, who disrupted Parliament last week by using pepper spray in the Lok Sabha, told CNN-IBN on Monday morning that at least two Union ministers and a few other Andhra Pradesh MPs who are not yet suspended will disrupt Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s vote on account speech in Parliament.

Asked by CNN-IBN Editor in Chief Rajdeep Sardesai if union ministers will disrupt their own government’s budget speech, Rajagopal said, “Yes. Pallam Raju, Purandeswari will protest. They will be backed by a few MPs who are not suspended and will take it forward. They have support from various quarters.”

Rajagopal said the UPA government’s brute force and undemocratic method of introducing the Telangana bill will “not be tolerated”.

Rajagopal said the Seemandhra MPs are demanding exactly what the Congress’s hoardings featuring Rahul Gandhi are proclaiming: Tode Nahin, Jode (Unite, don’t divide). “How can they say one thing on hoardings and do another thing in Parliament?”

Earlier, TDP MP Ramesh said the Seemandhra MPs will protest the vote on account speech and not permit it to proceed unless the Congress declares that the bill was not introduced.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde introduced the bill last week amid a din and even as Rajagopal used his pepper spray. Several parties including the BJP and the Left have opposed the manner of its introduction and the former has even claimed that the bill hasn’t been tabled yet.