Chaos ensued in the Indian Parliament after a minister of the governing party used pepper spray to settle a dispute that broke out this Thursday over the proposed plan to create the new state of Telengana in southern India, reports BBC.
At a meeting in the lower house, Minister L. Rajagopal reportedly grew enraged after his colleague, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, proposed the bill to create Telengana out of a portion of the Andhra Pradesh state. Upon hearing the proposition, Rajagopal smashed his glass and used pepper spray on his colleagues in an attempt to end the discussion.
The situation quickly deteriorated, with several other ministers joining the fray. The scene outside the parliament was no better, as people both for and against the Telengana cause began participating in ferocious riots and protests.
It was reported by the Press Trust of India that four ambulances were called to the scene to take several ministers to the hospital. The number of people affected by this incident is still undisclosed.
Meira Kumar, the Speaker of the lower house, reportedly left the scene coughing and took quick corrective action, suspending Rajgopal and several other MPs.
“Members tried to use gas in the house... gas the house... I did not see, but I am informed that there was a knife, there was gas, there were other kinds of weapons,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath when he was asked to speak to PTI regarding the situation. He also added: “The circumstances and incidents which took place in the house are a big blot on our parliamentary democracy.”
Since the current session of parliament began on February 5, there have been constant disruptions by those who oppose the creation of Telengana. The final decision on creation of the state still rests with parliament.