The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : A wordy duel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 25, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

A wordy duel

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 24. An argument between the Speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy, and the Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, rocked the State Assembly on Thursday, kicking off a lengthy discussion on the need to uphold the honour of the former.

It started when Mr. Naidu threw indications of making a long speech before leading a walkout by the TDP members over the failure of the Government to renew the contract of Multi-Purpose Extension Officers (MPEOs). Mr. Reddy insisted that Mr. Naidu be brief. As it did not have any effect, Mr. Reddy in a raised voice said, "I am sorry. I have to discipline you."

Mr. Naidu shot back, "This is not an elementary school to learn discipline."

Walk out

After sometime, Mr. Naidu and other TDP members walked out giving an explanation for their protest.

The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, praised the Speaker for being a soft person.

But, some people tried to exploit his goodness, he said adding if the Speaker was dishonoured, it was a blot on democracy. He urged the Speaker to put down indiscipline by acting tough against people who behaved rudely with him.

The Endowments Minister, M. Satyanarayana Rao, said he was pained after watching the unruly scenes in the Assembly.

The emotional outburst of Mr. Naidu when the TDP members were suspended from the House scared him, he claimed.

He advised Mr. Naidu to reconcile himself to the position he was in.

`Under pressure'

As if to atone for his mistake, Mr. Naidu said people did not know how much pressure and duress he was subjected to.

When Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy was winding up the debate, two TDP members, N. Janardhana Reddy and E. Dayakar Rao, left the House.

The Chief Minister said it was such intolerance that was unfortunate.

"While the Leader of the Opposition did not shake hands as if we are untouchables, others do not want to see our faces.

I do not know what pains them. We need to rise above party politics to raise the level of debate."

Supreme authority

The Speaker said flexibility and leniency was shown till now, owing to the composition of the House.

There were 143 new members and representatives of 10 political parties. The Chair was the supreme authority.

If members bowed before it they were showing respect not to him or the Chair but the people who have sent them here.

Ch. Rajeswara Rao (TDP), C. Narsi Reddy (Congress), G. Kishen Reddy (BJP), Sashidhar Reddy (Janata Party), D. K. Aruna (Samajwadi Party) and Raja Rao (BSP) spoke.

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