Opposition forces AP House to adjourn for the day

Hyderabad, Aug 17 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was abrubtly adjourned on the opening day of the Monsoon Session today without transacting any business, as a determined Opposition stalled the proceedings demanding immediate discussion on the grim flood situation in the state.

When the House assembled for the day, members of the main Opposition TDP and the Left, the BJP, the TRS and the AIMIM were on their feet protesting against Speaker K R Suresh Reddy's decision to disallow the adjournment motions given notice of by them on the issue, even as Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao made it clear the government was ready to discuss the issue at a time fixed by the Speaker.

The bonhomie that prevailed at the breakfast meeting hosted by the Speaker proved shortlived with the CPI members rushing to the well of the House and staging a sit-in demonstration, even as the Speaker appealed to them to 'facilitate a discussion and not to disrupt the House' The Speaker first adjourned the House for ten minutes with the Opposition not heeding to his request for allowing an hour's time for the government to prepare a note on the flood situation and facilitate fixing of time and mode of discussion on the issue by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC).

When the House reassembled after a brief adjournment, agitated TDP MLAs joined the CPI in the well of the House and pressed for suspension of the listed business and an immediate discussion on the issue of ''paramount importance.'' With the opposition refusing to accept the Speaker's suggestion for conduct of the listed business by a Panel Speaker so that the BAC could meet simultaneously to decide on the time and mode of discussion on the issue, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day after postponing the listed questions and announcing that all papers had been deemed to have been placed.

UNI SM PR HT1610