HYDERABAD: The first day of the monsoon session of Andhra Pradesh State Assembly, which began here on Monday, witnessed high-decibel verbal duel between the members of the ruling TDP and the lone Opposition, the YSRC, even as chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy exchanged heated arguments over according special status to the state.
There were challenges and counter challenges between Naidu and Jagan not only on the floor of the House, but also outside the Assembly.
The situation in the House was so volatile on the first day itself even Naidu could not complete his statement on the issue of special status as the slogan-shouting YSRC members stormed into the well.If Naidu warned Jagan against “crossing Lakshman Rekha” and the YSRC chief too fired salvos at Naidu by challenging him on the issue of special status.
The session was abruptly ended as Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao adjourned the Assembly for the day following repeated disruptions by the YSRC members in protest against a remark made by Naidu.
Earlier, while Jagan blamed the TDP for the denial of special status, Naidu retorted by stating that the need for special status arose because of YSRC’s collusion with Congress to divide AP in an unjust manner.
Naidu, while making a statement on the issue, went ballistic at the YSRC chief, saying that Jagan was seen nowhere in Parliament when it had passed the AP Reorganisation Bill ignoring the interests of Seemandhra.
“The man (Jagan), who is making tall claims about his commitment to protect the rights of Seemandhra by repeatedly raising the issue of special status, was seen nowhere when Parliament passed the Reorganisation Bill. He went into a hiding at that time,” the chief minister flew off the handle at the YSRC boss.
“The YSRC even withdre its notice to move no-confidence motion against the then UPA government, when the bill was being debated in the Lok Sabha,” he said.
Following Naidu’s remarks, members of the YSRC, trooped into the well of the House. They raised slogans when chief minister was reading out the statement on the demand for special category status. They did not allow the chief minister to continue with his statement.
As the opposition members refused to pay heed to the chair’s advice to resume their seats, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.