TDP, YSR Congress MLAs Almost Come To Blows

The second day of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly monsoon session witnessed unruly scenes with members of the treasury benches and the Opposition almost coming to blows with regard to the infamous "cash-for-vote" scam. They pushed each other at the Speaker's podium and disrupted the proceedings by allegations and counter-allegations.

The House turned stormy when the Leader of the Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy said that the Leader of the House N Chandrababu Naidu needed to resign if he failed to prove the allegation made by Naidu's Labour Minister Acchennaidu that he (Jagan) had connived with Telangana minister T Harish Rao on the note-for-vote scam.

"I am also ready to resign if Naidu or his Labour Minister Acchennaidu prove allegations of my conspiracy with Harish Rao with regard to the note-for-vote scam," Jagan said.

Earlier, the YSR Congress Party members had staged a protest and resorted to sloganeering against Labour Minister Acchennaidu for alleging that the TRS government had given an MLC post to Anglo-Indian Christian leader Stephenson after Jagan had closeted with Harish Rao. When Naidu also made the same comment that Jagan had connived with Harish Rao, the YSR Congress members stormed the podium, where the TDP members then joined them to take them on, leading to adjournment of the House.

After 15 minutes, Naidu began his statement in the House and moved a resolution seeking Special Category status to the state. When Naidu started speaking about the sequence of events leading to the bifurcation of the united state, Jagan took objection saying that the Chief Minister was telling stories instead of making a statement on Special Status to the state.

"He is speaking and we are hearing. We are not able to understand what he was saying," Jagan said.

Taking serious exception to Jagan's interruption, Naidu retorted saying that he knew everything about the rules and regulations of the House, and it was those who were stepping into the House for the first time that needed to take lessons on how to function in the House. Naidu also asked the Opposition whether they wanted a statement or a debate on the issue.

The Chief Minister said, "There is a need to present everything about the method of the division of the united state, the assurances given by the previous government and the process of implementation of the AP Reorganisation Act. With an intention to ensure a debate on the Special Status issue alone, I am presenting all the facts before the House. There are some rules and conventions to be followed in the House. After my statement, the Leader of the Opposition can speak," he clarified.

An emotional Naidu said that he was very serious about the subject of Special Status to Andhra Pradesh, and that the Leader of the Opposition and its members should understand.

"The behaviour of the Opposition is not good. The people of the state are in a quandary over the Special Status issue, and are eagerly looking towards us. As I am answerable to the people as the Chief Minister, I am presenting all the facts before the House. I was Chief Minister for 11 years and made hundreds and thousands of statements in the House. All the members should behave in dignified manner in conformity with the conventions of the House. Nobody should talk recklessly," he added.

Later, Speaker Kodela Siva Prasad Rao adjourned the House to meet on Wednesday after the House passed a resolution unanimously seeking Special Status to Andhra Pradesh.