Bedlam in AP house; Oppn forces adjournment

Hyderabad, Dec 20: Pandemonium prevailed in the Andhra PradeshAssembly soon after it met today as members of the opposition partiesdemanded postponement of the listed business and discussion on theiradjournment motions, which were rejected by Speaker K R Suresh Reddyearlier.

The Speaker announced that he had received notices for sevenadjournment motions from members of different parties, including onefrom a Congress member and said he had rejected all of them.

While the TDP and CPI(M) gave notices for discussion on risingprices and non-availability of essential commodities, the CPI wanted adebate on its adjournment motion on lathicharge and arrest of partyleaders and workers at Visakhapatnam yesterday, during an agitationagainst price rise. The TRS wanted shelving of the Pothireddypadu headregulator project.

The BJP gave notice on non-release of scholarships for SC and BCstudents, the BSP gave notice on non-release of funds to ITDA fortribal development. Congress member M Sasidhar Reddy wanted debate onhis adjournment motion on regularisation of contract workers while theAIMIM wanted proposal for sale of the state-owned Nagarjuna SugarFactory be dropped as recommended by the House Committee.

Carrying placards all the opposition members raised slogansdemanding a debate on their adjournment motions. They also trooped tothe well of the House and stalled the Question Hour.

The Speaker appealed to the members to get back to their seats andallow the House to take up the Question Hour as there were lot ofpending agenda, including postponed questions.

He pointed out to the TRS members that an on-going discussion onthe 610 GO as demanded by them was also pending and they were nowcoming up with a fresh problem.

''The issues raised by members are different. I can't even club them to sort out and find a solution'' Mr Reddy said.

He urged the opposition members to cooperate with him so that hecould complete the listed agenda. As his appeals were of no avail, headjourned the House for ten minutes within 15 minutes of its meeting.

UNI