The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Telugu Desam members stage walkout

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 09, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Telugu Desam members stage walkout

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 8. Capping a long stormy debate punctuated by uproarious scenes, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members staged a walkout in the Assembly on Thursday protesting against what they called the Government's attempt to shield the ruling party MP, Girish Sanghi, on the issue of employment of child labour in his spinning mills.

The two-and-a half- hour- long debate saw TDP members rushing to the Speaker's podium several times with some of them resorting to the unprecedented act of thumping their desk angrily and Congress members too moving forward into the aisle.

The TDP members shouted slogans like "We want judicial enquiry" to be countered by "We want Legislative Council" by treasury benches.

Raising the issue soon after the tea break, the TDP members stalled discussion on the statutory resolution on revival of the Legislative Council.

Even as the TDP members rose to speak, the Legislative Affairs Minister, K. Rosaiah, hurriedly read out the resolution on Council and listed reasons for its revival.

Angry TDP members gathered round the Speaker's podium and resorted to slogan-shouting. Undeterred Mr. Rosaiah moved the resolution. The Speaker then asked the Congress member, Dronamraju Satyanarayana, to initiate discussion on the resolution.

Within minutes, the focus of debate shifted from child labour to procedural wrangles over whether the resolution could be moved by the Minister when the House was not in order and whether the debate on child labour be taken up before or after the resolution.

The Speaker made it clear that he would allow debate and protest by TDP only on completion of the discussion on the resolution. The TDP's view was otherwise.

The Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrbabu Naidu, insisted that the issue of child labour should be taken up first, as the discussion remained inconclusive on Wednesday.

"The Labour Minister's reply was unsatisfactory. The House was adjourned abruptly and TDP members were not given time even to protest."

The Speaker disagreed with him and said he had given ample time, reflected in the way the House ran for over an hour after the scheduled time of adjournment for the day.

The TDP members' action in thumping Speaker's desk was condemned by Congress, TRS, CPI (M) and CPI. The Legislative Affairs Minister even moved a resolution disapproving their behaviour and sought the opinion of the House.

With Suresh Reddy not pressing the resolution, it was not adopted.

The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, too criticised TDP members' action and their "adamant behaviour" seen in their insistence on discussing child labour, disregarding the Chair's ruling.

At one point, Mr. Naidu charged the Chair with partisanship. Mr. Suresh Reddy advised him not to get worked up, as it was bad for his health.

This triggered angry protests from TDP members and it was during this time, that they rushed to Speaker's podium and thumped his desk. Mr. Suresh Reddy clarified that his advice was with good intentions.

With the TDP members staying put at the podium, Mr. Rosaiah said he was under pressure from his party members to seek their suspension.

"But we do not want to follow the undemocratic practices of the previous Telugu Desam Government."

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