Hyderabad: In a session marked by chaos and protests, the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed two major bills – the Young India Physical Education and Sports University of Telangana Bill, 2024 and the Telangana Universities (Amendment) Bill – without any debate in just five minutes. The proceedings took place amid disorder as MLAs from BRS and BJP stormed the well of the House to protest against the Congress government.
After question and answer time, the ruckus started when the House resumed after a two-hour break. BRS MLAs approached the Speaker’s dais demanding a debate on the controversial Lagcharla land acquisition issue. They expressed concern over the arrests of farmers protesting against the takeover, including the handcuffing of jailed farmers while being taken to hospital.
Despite the uproar, Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar refused to accede to their demands, urging the MLAs to return to their seats. However, as the opposition intensified, the speaker asked to introduce the bill.
Ministers Konda Surekha and D. As soon as Shridhar Babu introduced the bills, BRS MLAs carrying placards targeting the Congress government intensified their sloganeering and tried to reach the Speaker’s chair. Dozens of marshals were deployed to prevent them from disrupting the proceedings.
Adding to the agitation, BJP MLAs also stormed the well of the House demanding immediate implementation and legal sanctity of the six guarantees promised by the Congress during the assembly elections. They insisted on a debate to address the delay in fulfilling these guarantees.
Undeterred by the chaos, the Speaker proceeded with the legislative process, announcing that both bills had passed without debate. The entire process took just five minutes, with opposition members criticizing it for ignoring the democratic process.
The Young India Physical Education and Sports University of Telangana Bill, 2024 paves the way for the establishment of a dedicated sports university in Hyderabad. The organization aims to promote education and research in sports while serving as a center of excellence for nurturing talented athletes through international best practices. The university has also been authorized to set up satellite campuses, sports hostels and schools across the state.
The Telangana Universities (Amendment) Bill incorporated the Telangana Mahila Varshyam (Women’s University, Koti) into the Telangana Universities Act, 1991 by renaming it Veeranari Chakali Elamma Mahila University.
The amendment honors Chakli Illamma, a revered figure in the Telangana armed struggle, whose life and activism against oppression inspired the separate Telangana movement.
With Hyderabad as its base, the university will cater to the entire state, symbolizing Illamma’s legacy as a beacon of justice and equality.