The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Stormy start to Assembly session

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 22, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Stormy start to Assembly session

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JUNE 21. The budget session of the State Assembly began on a bitter note on Monday with the Telugu Desam members stalling the proceedings to press their adjournment motion on "inadequate" supply of seed to farmers and "confusion" in relief package to those who had committed suicide.

As soon as the House met, the Speaker, K. R. Suresh Reddy, announced that the motion moved by the Telugu Desam Party members was disallowed. He was also not allowing adjournment motions on the same subject, moved by the CPI (M) and the CPI.

The TDP members rose as one, demanding that the motion be taken up. The Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, said farmers were unable to get fresh crop loans and seed. There was confusion in the disbursal of relief package announced by the Government. The House should take up the discussion urgently, as there was no other subject important than this. There were jeers from the Congress benches and the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, kept smiling.

At one point when Mr. Naidu insisted that the House take up the discussion, the Speaker, ordered withdrawal of the mike, sparking protest from TDP members. The Congress members followed it up at the same decibel level. When the TDP member, N. Janardhana Reddy, kept making a point, the Speaker reprimanded him, saying he could not hold the House to ransom.

The Legislative Affairs Minister, K. Rosaiah, found it amusing that the TDP should come up with a demand for urgent discussion after being in power for nine years. He wanted them to show patience till tomorrow, when the Agriculture Minister, N. Raghuveera Reddy, would make a comprehensive statement on the issue. "After all we have just completed 29 days in office."

The Speaker said it was not proper for the TDP members to press for discussion at a time when the House was to take up condolence motions and when the Government had given an assurance to make a statement. The issue subsided when the Speaker agreed to consider the suggestion of Ch. Rajeswara Rao (TDP) to take up the discussion today and the Bill on moratorium tomorrow.

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