31 TDP members including Naidu suspended for 2 days

Hyderabad, Mar 22 (UNI) Thirty-one TDP members, including Opposition leader and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu were today suspended for two days for obstructing the proceedings of the House, even as TRS, CPI(M), CPI, AIMIM and the BJP members staged a walkout protesting the government's action.

The TDP stalled the proceedings of the House soon after it met for the day, demanding that files relating to the Sripadasagar project be placed on the table of Speaker K R Suresh Reddy. A 16-days marathon debate on the issue had also taken place in the house earlier.

Alleging that the ruling Congress had hiked the project cost by Rs 400 crore for 'kickbacks,' Opposition parties demanded that all the files relating to the project be placed before the Speaker for them to inspect.

While conceding the demand, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy yesterday, had agreed to place the files with the Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah.

The House was abruptly adjourned yesterday even as the Opposition insisted on placing the files with the Speaker.

TDP once again took up the issue today and and their members trooped into the well of the House and shouted slogans, obstructing Question Hour.

Deviating from the earlier practice of adjourning the House and consulting the floor leaders, Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah suddenly moved a resolution suspending all the TDP members present in the House and put it to vote.

Other Opposition members also protested the government's refusal to place the files before the Speaker and opposed the move to suspend the TDP members without consulting anyone.

The TDP members were suspended on two occasions earlier during the Budget session. However, on both the occasions the Opposition Leader Chandrababu Naidu was spared.

BSP member L Raja Rao also registered his protest against the suspension of the main Opposition members without consulting other parties.

The TDP members staged strong protest after their suspension at the Speaker's chamber.

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