7 legislators quit Indian parliament over creation of new state

Seven legislators belonging to the ruling congress party on Friday quit the Indian parliament to protest the creation of the new Telangana state by dividing the southern province of Andhra Pradesh. The seven lawmakers who tendered their resignation include six parliament members and one member of the upper house, Rajya Sabha, the local media reported. The legislators, who all belonged to state of Andhra Pradesh, said they met with Parliament speaker Meira Kumar to tender the resignation as required by law. The congress parliamentarians, upset over the government decision to create new Telegana state have, resigned to exert pressure on the Federal government to reverse its decision, government sources said. However, the ruling congress and United Progressive Alliance, who have unanimously agreed to approve the creation of new state, have asserted that there would be no going back on Telangana. The ruling congress party has approved the formation of the new Telangana state during its high level meeting on Tuesday. The Telangana state would become the 29th state of India and would be carved out by splitting the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Soon after the announcement, protests and strikes paralyzed the state of Andhara Pradesh since two major parts of the state resented the government decision. They were protesting against the division of the state.