Speaker stuns House with his 'offer'

Hyderabad, Dec 13 (UNI) Failing to break the impasse between the state government and the opposition over the timing of debate on the issue of alleged illegal land holdings by the family members of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's family members, Speaker K R Suresh Reddy today asked the floor leaders themselves to meet and decide on the issue.

With the opposition party members continuing to disrupt the proceedings of the House even after he held a meeting of all floor leaders to break the stalemate, the Speaker said '' I cannot run the House in this manner. It is totally improper on your part.'' Warning the members that he would not hold floor leaders meeting if they continued to plunge the House into pandemonium, the Speaker said ''I have done my best. Where are we heading now. You yourself hold a meeting and advice me of the outcome.'' While the government agreed for a debate on the issue on December 15, the opposition staged a noisy demonstration in the well of the House, pressing for the resignation of Chief Minister.

Pointing out that their behaviour was putting the House in poor light before the public, the Speaker asked ''''What are you achieving by this (stalling proceedings). We cannot waste public money like this.'' ''I cannot allow the Assembly to be in a state of pandemonium,'' he said, adjourning the House for the day without transacting any official business.

UNI SM ROY MSJ DS1423