TDP disrupts House proceedings over partisan attitude of Speaker

Hyderabad, Apr 2 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned twice today as the main Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) disrupted the proceedings over alleged partisan attitude of Speaker K R Suresh Reddy in conducting the debate on the no-confidence motion.

Comparing the House to a ''kavurava sabha,'' leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu protested over the Government's reply continuing even after 11 hours.

The ''cunning'' Congress was bent upon prolonging its reply to the debate and giving him time for reply only after midnight, Mr Naidu complained, after only five of the eight Ministers giving their replies and the Chief Minister not beginning his reply.

Deputy Speaker G Kutuhalamma adjourned the House for ten minutes as the TDP members were on their feet raising slogans pressing for the Speaker's return to the House to reply to their demand for adjourning the House for the day and continue the reply and voting tomorrow.

The TDP members staged a dharna in front of the Speaker's chambers in protest against the Congress party's strategy in the House.

Earlier, the Speaker adjourned the House for over ten minutes when the TDP members obstructed the proceedings for over two hours.

Mr Naidu complained that while frequent interventions by Ministers were allowed during the debate yesterday and the day before, no time was provided to the Opposition to intervene during the reply by Ministers to the debate.

The Speaker restored order to the House when it reassembled, promising to allot Mr Naidu the equal duration of time for reply and allow interventions as and when necessary during each minister's reply and resolved the impasse.

UNI SM AE KP2133