L Rajagopal says he used the pepper spray in self-defence
The parliamentarian who used pepper spray on other law-makers said today that he is not proud of his headline-making action, but was acting in self-defence.
"Definitely what happened yesterday, we all regret (it). We, all of us, feel ashamed about what happened in the Parliament yesterday... but we need to understand who is responsible for this," said L Rajagopal, 53, who was the epicentre of unprecedented clashes that erupted in Parliament on Thursday over the Centre's plans to create a new southern state of Telangana.
After Mr Rajagopal spritzed his aerosol can, parliamentarians were evacuated. They emerged rubbing their eyes and holding handkerchiefs to their noses. Three were treated in hospital for a few hours; a fourth was treated for severe chest pains.
Mr Rajagopal said that pepper spray is "a prescribed self-defence instrument so I used it." Last night, he told NDTV that he always carries a can with him, refuting allegations that his "pepper attack" was pre-meditated and designed to prevent the government from introducing the bill that bifurcates Andhra Pradesh.
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde tabled that proposal at noon, and a riot began. One law-maker opposed to the plan flung a computer; another smashed a glass table-top.
Mr Rajagopal is among six MPs who were expelled by the Congress earlier this week for moving a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister over the decision to turn the region on Telangana into a state.
The politicians opposing the bill belong to the non-Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh, and are worried about being punished by their voters in the coming national election.
The Congress has seen major blowback from its own leaders in the state over its plans, but believes that if it can get Parliament to approve the bill, it will win big in Telangana in the polls.