Opposition Stalls Council Again

The Andhra State Legislative Council was adjourned for the 3rd consecutive day, on Thursday, without any business being carried out.

The Opposition parties demanded that the Question Hour and other business be put off for discussions on the liquor scam and Telangana, and moved adjournment motions.

Reacting to the adjournment motions, Council Chairman Dr. A Chakrapani said that once disallowed, a motion could not be raised in the same session.

Showing displeasure towards the Chairman's remarks, the TDP members stood up and demanded a debate on the liquor scam. Reacting to this, the members of the Treasury benches stood up and started raising slogans like "We want Question Hour."

During this showdown between the Treasury and the Opposition benches, Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar advised the Chairman let there be voting on whether to conduct the Question Hour or go with the debate as being demanded by the Opposition.

However, the Chairman said that as the House was not in order he could not do anything, and adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

After 2 hours, when the House re-assembled, Leader of Opposition D Veerabhadra Rao got a chance to speak briefly. Referring to the liquor scam, he asked about how, when a sarpanch, an MP and a Councilor were barred from getting contracts in their local areas, a minister could get contracts in his son's name.

Dismissing the allegation, Agriculture Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana said that the Opposition had no courage to go for a debate, and that it has been stalling proceedings for no valid reason.

However, Veerabhadra Rao retorted, saying that the government was afraid of a debate, and that it was not ready to place the ACB report in the House.

Meanwhile, the Opposition members again started raising slogans, and demanded Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana's resignation. The slogan-shouting was reciprocated by the Treasury benches.

Since the House was completely out of order, the Chairman adjourned the House for the day. (INN)