The issue of separate statehood for Telangana region rocked the Lok Sabha as soon as it met on Wednesday, forcing adjournment of the House till noon.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti members stormed into the well of the House and created an uproar, a day after the party's two ministers resigned from the United Progressive Alliance government.
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee repeatedly asked them to return to their seats with an assurance that he would hear them but these went unheeded.
"I will hear you now, go to your seats. You will be given a chance to speak," the Speaker told the four TRS members repeatedly as they shouted slogans demanding a separate Telangana state.
The TRS members created ruckus in the House as the party chief K Chandrasekara Rao started an indefinite fast. They were supported by BJP members, who added to the pandemonium.
"I want to listen to you now although this is not the time. (But) you want to hold the House to ransom," the Speaker told the TRS members and at one point of time, took up the Question Hour.
Expressing displeasure at the happenings in the House, Chatterjee told the TRS members, "You are concerned about your constituencies and not the issue. You are not serving your cause."
While telling them that nothing will go on record till they speak in the Well, the Speaker said, "It is a very, very sorry state of affairs. I can express agony."
He even asked the leaders of all political parties to decide whether the House should be allowed to be disrupted in such a manner. However, after his pleas went unheeded and pandemonium continued for about 25 minutes disrupting the Question Hour, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon.
"Let the nation decide whether our democracy is functioning responsibly," he said.
