Govt, opposition blame each other for AP house adjournment

Hyderabad, Aug 17 (UNI) While the Andhra Pradesh Government charged the Opposition with forcing adjournment of the House without transacting official business for ''political mileage,'' the opposition TDP accused the ruling Congress of preplanning to avoid serious discussion on burning issues in the state Assembly to cover up its lapses.

Storming into the well of the House by the opposition was ''unwarranted'' when the Government was prepared to discuss flood situation at a time decided by the Speaker, Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy and Government Chief Whip N Kirankumar Reddy told reporters here today.

''It is unfortunate that opposition parties have resorted to mud-slinging at a time when the Government is fully engrossed in relief and rehabilitation'' they opined.

Senior TDP legislator Y Ramakrishnudu questioned the need for Speaker K R Suresh Reddy to adjourn the House when the Government was ready for a discussion on the issue. If the flood situation could not be raised through an adjournment motion, what else could be raised, Mr Ramakrishnudu, himself a former Speaker and former Legislative Affairs Minister, asked.

''The ruling Congress has preplanned to avoid a serious discussion on any issue in the session fearing it will get exposed,'' Mr Ramakrishnudu charged, alleging that ''for personal reasons, including marriages in some Ministers' families, they have ensured adjournment of the House.

However, the Agriculture Minister dismissed the charge as 'ridiculous' and asked ''who rushed into the well of the House.'' While CPI(M) floor leader N Narasimiah joined the TDP in demanding that the Question hour be suspended tomorrow to facilitate an immediate discussion on floods, BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy and CPI floor leader Ch Venkata Reddy asked the TDP as also the CPI(M) not to fall into the 'trap' of the ruling Congress to avoid discussion on burning issues by insisting on postponment of question hour.

After question hour and zero hour mentions, which too could be used to question the Government, the Assembly could discuss an issue each day by sitting beyond lunch break, the BJP leader opined.

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