HYDERABAD: Pandemonium prevailed in Andhra Pradesh State Assembly on Tuesday, the seventh day of the ongoing budget session, with the Opposition stalling the proceedings demanding more time for Leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy to conclude his remarks on the budget speech.
With Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad Rao not considering their demand, citing that Jagan Mohan Reddy had utilised more time than allocated, opposition members stormed the Well of the House and stalled the proceedings. At one point of time, rising slogans, two YSRC MLAs had even pulled the mike in the Speaker’s podium, following which the House was adjourned for 15 minutes.
Immediately after the House recommenced, Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, citing rules and procedures of the Assembly, moved a motion seeking suspension of YSRC MLAs R Siva Prasad Reddy and M Mani Gandhi for breaking the Speaker’s mike. The motion got carried and the members were suspended from the House for the rest of the session.
Following the Speaker’s announcement, opposition party member rushed to the Well of the House in protest. Meanwhile, ministers Ravela Kishnore Babu, P Sujatha, chief whip Kalava Srinivasulu and TDP MLA Gollapalle Surya Rao criticised the behaviour of the Opposition in strong words and called Jagan anti-Dalit.
At one point of time, Surya Rao even described Jagan as an economic terrorist with a fascist mindset and YSR’s regime as ‘Rakshasa Palana’. He called Jagan a dictator and said the Opposition leader has no right to speak about democracy as he does not believe in it or practice it. “Does he know what democracy is?” he wondered. The Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
When it recommenced, the Speaker asked the suspended MLAs present in the House to leave. When Jagan tried to comment on the suspensions, the Speaker silenced his mike asking him not to mislead the House. Deputy CM KE Krishnamurthy and Labour Minister K Achannaidu also condemned the behaviour of opposition party legislators and said in the Assembly, the Speaker is supreme and no one has the right to question his decisions.
They advised Jagan to know the rules and procedures of the House before casting aspersions on the Chair. With YSRC MLAs not heeding the request of the Speaker to withdraw from the Well of the House and allow the proceedings, the House was adjourned for the day. Earlier, during the Question Hour, when the opposition party legislators had stormed the Well of the House demanding they be allowed to ask more supplementary question, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
When the House recommenced, Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu tabled the report of the Committee on Rules. Chief Whip Kalava Srinivasulu moved a privilege motion against YSRC legislator Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy for casting aspersions on the Speaker in a press statement. Opposition’s motion for discussion on debate was also disallowed by the Speaker before the commencement of the Question Hour.
Jagan’s Protest
Claiming the Opposition’s voice is being stifled, Leader of Opposition and YSRC chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy said they will not hesitate to move a no-confidence motion against the Speaker if the same situation continues.
Addressing mediapersons after the House was adjourned, he said he and his party members, were not even allowed to make their protest and announce a ‘walk-out’. “Even before I had concluded my speech, my mike was cut ,” he said.
Jagan said at no point of time he had made any personal remarks, but the ruling party choose to target YSR. Even the ministers, replying during Question Hour, slighted YSR, instead of talking about the subject they were supposed to. He demanded withdrawal of the suspension of his two MLAs and the privilege motion against another MLA.