NEW DELHI — India's Parliament has approved a plan to create a 29th state following days of political mayhem, including a melee in which a lawmaker unleashed pepper spray on his colleagues. Members of groups opposed to the division of southern Andhra Pradesh state drowned out a speech by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh just before the vote Thursday by shouting “No, No.” However, the upper house passed the bill in a voice vote as the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party joined the ruling Congress party in supporting the legislation, which was approved by the lower house on Tuesday. The president is now expected to sign the bill to create Telangana state from mostly poor, inland districts of Andhra Pradesh. Opponents had objected to including wealthy tech and industrial hub Hyderabad in Telangana. — AP
