Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Friday said she was saddened to receive the resignations of 13 Andhra Pradesh MPs demanding a separate Telangana state and a decision on them would be taken before parliament’s monsoon session.

“I have received 13 resignation letters. It is sad to receive so many resignations. These are under my consideration,” Meira Kumar said.

The Lok Sabha speaker was addressing a news conference on the eve of the 5th SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians Conference to be held in New Delhi.

Asked if the final decision on the protesting MPs’ resignations would be taken before parliament’s monsoon session that begins Aug 1, Meira Kumar said: “I hope so. Yes.”

Asked if the resignations were a pressure tactic by the Telangana MPs, Meira Kumar refused a direct reply saying she was still examining the letters from the lawmakers. Nine of those who resigned were from the Congress and two each of Telugu Desam Party and Telangana Rashtriya Samiti.

“There are rules that govern resignation of MPs. I will follow those,” she said. However, she said if the MPs wanted to raise the Telangana issue in the Lok Sabha they were “welcome”.

“If the MPs want to speak and raise the issue… I always welcome that but not from the well of the house,” she said, referring to lawmakers often marching towards the speaker’s podium during protests in the house.

As the speaker, Meira Kumar always objects to such protests which ultimately force adjournment of the proceedings.

Asked if she feared a tumult in the house during the monsoon session, Meira Kumar said: “I do not mind having a tumultuous house. But the house should not be adjourned. The business should be transacted and the Question Hour should not be disrupted.”