Bedlam in AP assembly; Oppn parties force adjournment

Hyderabad, Dec 20 (UNI) Pandemonium prevailed in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly soon after it met today as members of the opposition parties demanded postponement of the listed business and discussion on their adjournment motions, which were rejected by Speaker K R Suresh Reddy earlier.

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

While the TDP and CPI(M) gave notices for discussion on rising prices and non-availability of essential commodities, the CPI wanted a debate on its adjournment motion on lathicharge and arrest of party leaders and workers at Visakhapatnam yesterday, during an agitation against price rise. The TRS wanted shelving of the Pothireddypadu head regulator project.

The BJP gave notice on non-release of scholarships for SC and BC students, the BSP gave notice on non-release of funds to ITDA for tribal development. Congress member M Sasidhar Reddy wanted debate on his adjournment motion on regularisation of contract workers while the AIMIM wanted proposal for sale of the state-owned Nagarjuna Sugar Factory be dropped as recommended by the House Committee.

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

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

He pointed out to the TRS members that an on-going discussion on the 610 GO as demanded by them was also pending and they were now coming 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 he could complete the listed agenda. As his appeals were of no avail, he adjourned the House for ten minutes within 15 minutes of its meeting.

UNI JRK ROY PA ND1012