Assembly Adjourned On Day 3

Slogan-shouting, din and pandemonium marked the 3rd day of the Budget session of the Andhra Pradesh state Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, resulting in its adjournment without any business transacted.

As soon as the House met at 9am, the Opposition parties made adjournment motions seeking discussions on various demands.

While the Telugu Desam Party made an adjournment motion on the liquor syndicate, the TRS and the BJP wanted the House to adopt a resolution on Telangana.

The CPI wanted discussions on the Pranahita Chevella project, and the CPM made an adjournment motion on famers' crop holiday.

However, Speaker Nadendla Manohar disallowed all the motions.

The TDP members were divided into 2 groups, with one led by Errabelli Dayakar Rao raising slogans in favour of a separate Telangana, and the other demanding discussions on the liquor syndicate.

The TRS members, too, rushed to the podium, demanding a Telangana resolution.

However, the BJP members remained at their seats, merely standing and holding placards.

Having failed to restore order for about 7 minutes, the Speaker adjourned the House for half-an-hour. He also called for a meeting with the floor leaders.

The uproar resumed after the House re-assembled at 12:10pm. Amidst the din, Legislative Affairs Minister D Sreedhar Babu said that the government was ready for a discussion on all the issues. However, he insisted that the House first finish the discussions on the thanks-giving motion on the Governor's address.

Meanwhile, government Whip Dronamraju Srinivas proposed that a joint committee comprising members of both Legislative Assembly and the Council be constituted to study the land allotments made for the Special Economic Zones. The proposal was accepted by the Speaker.

The Opposition members continued with the slogan-shouting, despite several appeals by the Speaker to restore order.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, too, tried in vain to assure the Opposition benches that the government was ready to discuss all the issues.

With no signs of change in the situation, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day at 12:30pm. (INN)