Heated exchanges in AP Assembly

Heated exchanges in AP Assembly

It was bedlam with capital B. Right from the word go, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly plunged into pandemonium on Thursday over the issue of discussion on location of the new capital. The YSR Congress members forced adjournment of the House for three times in the space of two hours. For most part of the day uproarious scenes marred the session with sharp exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches.

The members tried to score a point over the other side with witty and often sarcastic remarks. The turmoil led to the Speaker, Kodela Sivaprasad Rao, postponing question hour and declaring the demands of various departments as deemed to have been moved. Earlier, the Speaker disallowed an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition seeking discussion on the issue.

However, a determined Opposition stuck to its guns and insisted on discussion followed by the Chief Minister’s statement and then voting. The government also stood its ground and said the YSRC could not ‘dictate the Chair’ and set the agenda. Irate YSRC members kept trooping into the well of the House at regular intervals holding placards and raising slogans demanding justice.

It’s unfair, says Jagan

“The Chief Minister is going to make a statement. Thereafter you can discuss, make suggestions and seek clarifications. But you can’t dictate the House,” the Speaker told the YSRC members.

Leader of the Opposition, Jaganmohan Reddy, saw no point in holding discussions once the Chief Minister made a statement. He recalled how debate took place when the State was carved out of Madras in 1953. Just because the ‘muhurat’ time was nearing the Opposition couldn’t be bulldozed. “Is there democracy in the House?” he asked.

At this juncture, a remark by Legislative Affairs Minister, Y. Ramakrishnudu triggered noisy scenes yet again. “The House has democracy but not Jaganocracy,” he quipped. Jyothula Nehru (YSRC) demanded an apology from Mr. Ramakrishnudu for insulting the leader of the Opposition. The Speaker promised to look into the records and delete unparliamentary remarks, if any, made by the Legislative Affairs Minister.

Mr. Ramakrishnudu maintained that what he said was not unparliamentary. The House would function as per rules and regulations. If the opposition members wanted to carry on as they wished then they could do so at ‘Lotus Pond,’ he remarked.

In the din that followed somebody remarked about Mr. Ramakrishnudu becoming a Minister through the ‘back door.’ The treasury benches countered by saying that Prime Ministers, Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh too were Rajya Sabha members. Mr. Ramakrishnudu was a six-time MLA and knew what he was speaking, they said.

The YSRC members created a flutter by displaying placards in the House which proclaimed “Real Estate Rajadhani kadu, real Rajadhani kavali” and “Nara Narayana Rajadhanai kadu, navyandhra rajadhanai kavali”.

Labour Minister Atchan Naidu said government had chosen the capital city region after careful thought. “You can’t expect the capital to come up where you have purchased land,” he remarked.

The YSRC members sprang to their feet and moved into the well of the House when Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu got up to make the much-awaited statement at 11.10 a.m. Amidst thumping of the desks by the ruling party legislators, Mr. Naidu announced location of the capital city around Vijayawada. The statement sparked another round of protests leading to adjournment of the House for the third time.

TH