United opposition forces government for debate on 'tainted' ministers

All opposition parties on Tuesday forced the State Government to agree for a discussion in the House on the controversial GOs pertaining to the illegal assets case of Kadapa MP Ys Jagan Mohan Reddy.

As soon as the House met on Tuesday, about 38 MLAs of opposition parties rushed to the podium of Speaker Nadendla Manohar seeking discussion on the controversial GOs and action against six 'tainted' ministers who have been served notices by the Supreme Court. Following uproar, Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Earlier, the Speaker disallowed five adjournment motions submitted by TRS floor Etala Rajender on irrigation projects, MIM's Akbaruddin Owaisi on corruption since 1995, BJP's E Lakshminarayana on House Committee's report on Nizam Sugar Factory, CPI's G Mallesh on regularisation of municipal workers and CPM's J Ranga Reddy on irregularities in the implementation of welfare schemes.

When the House met again at 10.10 am, opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu and Akbaruddin Owaisi tried to speak simultaneously on corruption. However, the Speaker did not permit any of them to speak.

Intervening on the issue, Chief Minsiter N Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the all GOs were available on the internet and there was no need for the government to place them before the House separately. He said that it would inappropriate for the House to discuss an issue which was sub-judice. However, he said that the government was ready for the debate if Speaker permits.

Countering the Chief Minister's claim, Chandrababu Naidu cited the example of 2G scam which was discussed in the Parliament although the case going on in the Supreme Court and was being investigated by multiple agencies.

Akbaruddin Owaisi, BJP's G Kishan Reddy, Lok Satta's Dr Jaya Prakash Narayana and other opposition MLAs advocated the debate on the 'tainted' ministers and controversial GOs. Bowing to the pressure of opposition parties, the State Government then agreed for the discussion and said that the modalities for the same would be finalised by the Speaker in the Business Advisory Council meeting to be held later.