Minister for Agriculture Y S Vivekananda Reddy tried to manhandle TDP MLA Chintamaneni Prabhakar in the budget session of the Assembly today.
In a record of sorts, a Minister went charging towards the opposition ranks and attempted to manhandle an opposition MLA on the Floor of the House on Monday.
The incident, perhaps unparalleled in the history of the AP Assembly, saw the Minister being supported by the members loyal to former MP and Kadapa leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who could not tolerate the victimized TDP MLA displaying a placard along with his colleagues.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is understood to have called the Minister involved, Y S Vivekananda Reddy, to his chambers.
The placard, which read as ‘YSR Robbers’ Gang’ went on display following the Chair’s refusal of the constitution of a JLC probe into the irregular land allocations made to Jaganmohan Reddy’s business associates in the city.
The budget session had been a witness to the burning issue raised by the opposition leaders who stalled the regular business almost daily.
The issue eluded government’s attention, which gave an impression that the state government was shielding the previous controversial land allocations made during the YSR regime by not conceding to the demand made by the opposition.
On Monday, the TDP legislators, holding placards, pressed the acting Speaker to give the nod for a JLC enquiry into the cited prime land allocations.
As soon as the Assembly session began, the TDP members insisted on the constitution of a JLC to probe into the illegal land allocations made to the business associates of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.
The MIM members, too, demanded a similar probe on Wakf lands’ allotment.
The MIM was told that an announcement would be made on the said Wakf lands, but the party Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi insisted on a probe.
Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar rejected their demand and adjourned the session for half an hour.
When the House reassembled, Chintamaneni Prabhakar, TDP MLA from Denduluru, asked the rationale behind Jagan group’s opposition to the constitution of JLC probe into the irregular and controversial land deals.
The TDP members raised slogans, demanding the JLC enquiry, while holding placards which stated ‘YSR Robbers’ Gang’.
Minister for Agriculture Y S Vivekananda Reddy, who is the former chief minister’s brother, was stung by the placards’ display. He went near them and seized the placard held by Prabhakar.
YSV was instantly supported by the MLAs of the Jagan group.
The Minister caught hold of Prabhakar’s shirt which led to near-stampede on the Floor. Congress MLA Dwarampudi Adinarayana Reddy also attacked Prabhakar.
Minister for Wakf and Minorities Welfare, Mohammed Ahmedullah, tried to intervene and pacify the ‘warring’ MLAs, but in vain.
Tempers ran high and there was tension in the Well of the House which prompted the Chair to call the marshals who entered the scene.
Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana expressed regrets that he was witness to such an incident.
The event was unfortunate, said Government Chief Whip Bhatti Vikramarka.