VIJAYAWADA: Tension pervaded the AP Legislative Assembly on Friday with TDP and YSRC MLAs coming very close to exchanging blows over the AgriGold scam.
In continuation to Thursday's drama, which unfolded with both parties challenging and counter challenging each other, Agriculture Minister P Pulla Rao said YSRC chief and Leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy, who made allegations that his family members had purchased lands belonging to the AgriGold group, should take up the gauntlet.
Pulla Rao said Jagan should spell out his stand on whether he was ready to be expelled from the House if he failed to prove the charges against him saying he was "ready for the same punishment if proved guilty."
Even as the YSRC chief evaded a direct reply and tried to continue his speech on the AgriGold issue, the treasury benches demanded a clear response from him.
Labour Minister K Atchannaidu requested Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao to take up other issues only after the YSRC chief clarified his stand on the challenge.
Goaded by the suggestion, Kodela asked YSRC chief to first respond to the challenge, which led to Opposition MLAs storming the well. Stating that there is no scope for debate over the AgriGold issue as Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had already made a statement and replied to the House on Thursday, Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu asserted that further proceedings of the House would be taken up only after Jagan responded to the challenge.
With the YSRC MLAs demanding that the Speaker give their leader a chance to speak and the treasury benches sticking to their demand that the YSRC chief should not be allowed to speak until he responds, MLAs from both sides -- particularly Chevireddy Bhaskara Reddy (YSRC) and Chintamaneni Prabhakar (TDP) -- came very close to exchanging blows.
YSRC leader Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy raised a Point of Order and asked the Speaker if there was scope for challenges and counter challenges in a Parliamentary system.
The session ended with Jagan storming the House with YSRC leaders in tow.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu responded to the sequence of events accusing Jagan of being cowardly. " Why are they afraid to take up the challenge? Cowardice is unbecoming of a respectable Opposition. As the Leader of Opposition has raised allegations against a Minister, only one of them should remain in the House," he said.
P Vishnukumar Raju (BJP floor leader): As long as such opposition party exists there is no use with organising the session. It is waste of public money and also wasting time of the public representatives.
Later, the Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala moved a resolution condemning the attitude of the YSRC chief in Assembly and the TDP leaders as well as the BJP floor leaders condemned the behaviour of Jaganmohan Reddy.