YSR, Naidu lose temper before BAC meeting

Hyderabad, Nov 5 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and his predecessor N Chandrababu Naidu today had a verbal duel before the start of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting in ssembly Speaker K R Suresh Reddy's chambers.

At the height of the heated exchanges, Mr Naidu threatened to ''see the end'' of Dr Reddy. The Chief Minister asked the former to do whatever he could and first ''shut up'', stunning the Speaker and Floor leaders of various parties present.

''I know your history,'' both said to each other and later Mr Naidu left the Speaker's chambers in a hurry.

Later, talking to reporters, Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah, along with the Chief Minister, maintained that Dr Reddy had observed maximum restraint and he had reacted under provocation.

''There is no need for Dr Reddy to withdraw his remarks.'' Objecting to the alleged ''insult'' heaped on Mr Naidu, the TDP members staged a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises.

Earlier, Mr Naidu, upset with the denial of an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to raise the issue of hike in MSP for Paddy, started criticising the Union and State Governments before the start of the BAC meeting.

The Chief Minister opined that it was the Opposition which did not allow conduct of the House on the first day itself.

Immediately, Mr Naidu objected to the way the House was adjourned without any discussion.

Following this, Dr Reddy told Mr Naidu that the House would be conducted as per his wishes, which led to the tiff.

The angry TDP President boycotted the BAC meeting and later told reporters that Dr Reddy had ''insulted'' him. ''It is undemocratic on the part of the Chief Minister and it is a black day for democracy,'' he claimed.

UNI