MLAs' suspension, fee arrears ensure no business in House

The state Assembly was adjourned without transacting any business as the Opposition leaders insisted on allowing the adjournment motions on several issues on Monday. Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar tried in vain to pacify the agitating Members, who demanded that the House take up a discussion on Telangana statehood demand and the fee reimbursement arrears issue immediately.

Finding no change in the attitude of the Members, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for the day.

The House will meet on February 22.

Earlier, slogan shouting Telugu Desam Party and Telangana Rashtra Samithi Members registered their protest demanding a resolution in the house on Telangana formation.

Pressure also mounted on the chair to lift suspensions on the five Legislators - two TDP and three TRS Members. But this was turned down by the Chair.

Replying to demands of lifting of the suspensions on the five Members, Minister for Labour Danam Nagender demanded that the TDP and TRS tender an unconditional apology.

The Minister pointed out that the five members’ disruption of the House and their riotous behaviour was shameful when they advanced towards the podium of Governor ESL Narasimhan, who was addressing the Joint Sitting of the Legislatures on the opening day of the Budget Session of the Assembly.

Expressing his resentment against such unethical behaviour of the TDP and TRS Members, Mr Nagender questioned the propriety of the main opposition party in asking for the lifting of the Members’ suspensions.

A number of adjournment motions were sought to be introduced in the Assembly on Monday.

The TDP and the CPI demanded a debate on fee reimbursement and SC/ST properties mortgaged respectively.

The TRS insisted on a debate on the contentious Telangana issue and lifting of suspensions, while the BJP insisted that the noncooperation agitation should be discussed. The CPM on its part sought a discussion on the recent demolitions of huts in Singareni Colony by the authorities.

Legislators owing allegiance to former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy demanded that the government immediately release the arrears of the amount towards the fee reimbursement.

They also blamed the state government for diluting the prestigious and pro-poor schemes launched by former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, which were designed to benefit poor students.

Members Konda Surekha, Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Gurunadh Reddy, Babu Rao, Balineni Srinivas Reddy, former cine actress Jayasudha, Srikanth, Shoba Nagireddy, J Satyavathi, Adinarayana Reddy were among others who registered their protest in the House today.

Later, Legislators from Telangana region met Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and urged him to find a solution to the noncooperation stir launched by the Telangana staff.

Earlier, the Floor Leaders of all parties met the Deputy Speaker and urged him to lift suspensions on the five Legislators. They were assured that the issue would be taken up during the tea break.

Before the Assembly Session began, suspended TDP MLA Revanth Reddy was prevented from entering into the premises by the marshals. Protesting against this, TDP Deputy Floor Leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy and Revanth Reddy said it was a violation of rights of the MLA and complained to Deputy Speaker.

TRS leader Etela Rajender said that the House will not be allowed to transact any business unless and until it adopted a resolution on separate Telangana.