Hyderabad: Pandemonium prevailed in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for the third consecutive day as Opposition parties stalled proceedings on different issues resulting in the House being adjourned for the day.
Three adjournments for an hour each did not bring order in the House as the opposition legislators stormed the Speaker’s podium, holding placards and raising slogans in support of their respective demands.
The main opposition Telugu Desam Party, along with CPI and CPM, demanded that the Central immediately slash the price of diesel and lift the ceiling on subsidised LPG. The YSR Congress and the BJP members too joined the protest on the same issue.
The Telangana Rashtra Samiti, on the other hand, wanted the House to adopt a resolution seeking creation of a separate Telangana state.
Speaker Nadendla Manohar first adjourned the House till 10 AM within three minutes after it sat for the day’s business. Noisy scenes continued when the House reassembled at 10.05 AM as the opposition MLAs stayed put in the Well of the House.
Amidst this, the Speaker asked Deputy Chief Minister, holding charge of Higher Education portfolio, to move a Bill to amend the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological Universities Act and another Bill to further amend the Andhra Pradesh Education Act. The two Bills seek to replace the Ordinances issued last month.
Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu, on behalf of the Municipal Administration Minister, moved a Bill to further amend the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act, seeking to create a common service for employees in municipal corporations.
The Speaker then appealed to the protesting Opposition legislators to return to their seats and let the House transact business but to no avail. Manohar then adjourned the House for the second time till 11 AM.
The din continued even after the House resumed after the interval, leading to a third adjournment.
Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who was in the chair when the House resumed, appealed to the protesting members to return to their seats and let the business run.
Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu said the government was ready to discuss the diesel price hike and LPG ceiling issue but wanted the House to come to an order first.
Congress MLA Sheik Mastanvali found fault with the Opposition members for stalling the House and remarked that those trying to fan hatred among people along regional lines should be branded as “traitors”. He tried to quote a “senior person” in this regard but the TRS members shouted back at him.
CPI floor leader G Mallesh also tried to speak but the protesting members raised their pitch. With the Opposition remaining unrelenting, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for the day. (PTI)