Assembly Goes Sans Business Again

As usual, the Telangana resolution was sought to be introduced by the opposition on the Floor of the House, but with Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar refusing to concede to the demand, the adamant opposition members forced adjournment of the state Assembly for the 9th day on Monday without any business transactions.

Even as the TRS members chose to boycott the Assembly meetings, the main opposition Telugu Desam Party and others forced the Deputy Speaker to adjourn the House twice within one hour of the starting of the session on Monday.

As soon as the session began, the TDP members protested demanding a resolution on Telangana despite Minister for Legislative Affairs Duddilla Sridhar Babu reminding them about conducting the proceedings peacefully. The minister also accused former Chief Minister and TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu of misleading the people of the state on the Telangana issue.

His words prompted Naidu to state that though the TDP had fought the 2004 elections on a 'United Andhra Pradesh' plank, it was rejected by the people. Naidu further said that the situation in the state has changed and the people from Telangana region have made it clear that nothing but a separate state would satisfy them.

Naidu further stated that the Telangana issue had affected all parties and had divided them into 2 groups. The TDP was no exception, the former chief minister admitted.

As soon as Naidu ended his response, Sridhar Babu rose to his feet and said that the TDP had blocked the attempt to bifurcate the state during the NDA rule at the Centre.

Sridhar Babu reminded that BJP leader L K Advani himself had admitted that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu blocked the separation of Telangana from the state.

At this point TDP MLA Kothakota Dayakar Reddy rolled up his sleeves and tried to rush towards the minister, but the Congress members managed to hold him back.

A group of TDP members rushed to the podium to register their protest on the issue, but they were later brought back to their seats by party MLA Dhoolipalla Narendra and Kothakota.

The TDP Members carried placards on the Telangana issue and protested against the government's inaction.

The TDP men complained to the Deputy Speaker that that there was no clear direction on the telecast of the House proceedings, and urged him for live telecast of the proceedings.

Soon after, the Congress Members from Telangana, who had been staying away from the House, joined issue with the opposition for a resolution on Telangana.

Later, MLAs and MLCs from Telangana region decided to boycott the session demanding Telangana Bill in the Parliament.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy's attempt to pacify them fell on deaf ears.

On the other hand, they took a decision to extend their support to the agitating Telangana NGOs' non-cooperation agitation.

The Chief Minister is understood to have advised them that being in the ruling party, it was not proper for them to protest in the House. They were asked to cooperate with the Chair, but the unrelenting members refused to budge.

Finding the members not cooperating with the Chair for conduct of the listed business, the Deputy Speaker had no alternative except adjourning the Assembly.

Courtesy: INN