T-Cong MPs spurn President's address

Regionalism at the expense of the party ethics may attract disciplinary action. MPs from Telangana in their enthusiasm for separate statehood created a ruckus after President Pratibha Patil addressed the joint session of parliament complaining that she skirted the Telangana  issue in her speech.

It is sad to learn that the Congress MPs, either out of ignorance or innocence, displayed their resentment in Parliament by displaying placards that read ``Jai Telangana, Jai Congress.’’ It is  a fact that the President's speech was prepared by the Congress-led UPA  government. So, it exposes the Congress leaders' lack of regard for party discipline.

Further, the T-Congress leaders observed a 2-minute silence in the Central Hall of Parliament in memory of those who had laid down their lives for the T-cause after the President's customary address to the joint House on the first day of the Budget session.

The MPs representing Telangana who showed placards at the President include Madhu Goud Yashki, G Vivekanand, Ponnam Prabhakar and others. However, Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy did not express his feelings.

Yakshi later told newsmen that the MPs ''wanted to express their sentiments. We are upset that the Telangana issue did not find mention. So we protest in a very peaceful manner.''