35 Oppn MLAs suspended for Question Hour

Hyderabad, Dec 14 (UNI) Thirty-five members belonging to the Opposition TDP, TRS and CPI (M) were today suspended from Andhra Pradesh Assembly during Question Hour for obstructing the business of the House by demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy for his alleged involvement in a land scam.

The Opposition parties which stalled the proceedings yesterday on the same issue, today demanded the postponement of listed business and taking up the land issue.

Though Dr Reddy and Finance Minister K Rosaiah agreed to discuss the issue immediately after Question Hour, the Opposition insisted on postponement of the business and immediate discussions on the issue soon after the House met for the day this morning.

As the Opposition was obstructing the business of the House, Speaker K R Suresh Reddy permitted the Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister Rosaiah to name the members for suspension during the Question Hour.

After the Minister named them, marshalls were called in to remove the members who refused to leave the House.

Leader of the Opposition and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu who was not named walked out of the House protesting the suspension of his party MLAs.

Opposition leaders later staged a dharna in the Assembly premises, demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister who they alleged had 'himself admitted to the possession' of forest land, holding more land than permitted by the Urban Land Ceiling Act and land assigned to the poor.

There was, however, some confusion as TRS dissident MLA Sara Rani and loyalist Padma Devender Reddy protested that their names were also mentioned though they had not obstructed the proceedings.

Mr Rosaiah asked them to spend an hour in the lobby failing which, he expressed his willingness to withdraw their names.

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