Andhra Pradesh: Assembly adjourned amid pandemonium

Hyderabad, Mar 13: The Andhra Pradesh assembly was adjourned amid pandemonium with the main opposition TDP and the ruling Congress levelling charges against each other of using unparliamentary words.

The House witnessed acrimonious scenes during Question Hour when Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy rose to make an explanation on a question by D Umamaheswara Rao and others of TDP on the proposal to shift Machilipatnam Deepwater port.

Soon after Dr Reddy began his speech, TDP members were on their feet and shouted loudly that the Chief Minister had used an unparliamentary word against the opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu.

They all rushed to the well of the House and sat there. Some members even climbed the steps leading to the podium of the Speaker.

Former speaker and TDP leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said they would not allow the House to function until the Chief Minister apologised.

Immediately, Dr Reddy said the opposition also used some unparliamentary words against him.

Speaker K R Suresh Reddy said during the course of discussions it was natural that through slip of tongue a member could utter an unparliamentary word and if that happens he would naturally withdraw it. Sometimes words could not be properly heard due to din. However, there were records which could be verified.

The speaker repeatedly told the opposition members that he would check the records and set them straight.

Denying that he said anything unparliamentary, Chief Minister asked the Speaker to send the records to him. Dr Reddy assured that he would unconditionally apologise if he had said anything unparliamentary.

Despite Speaker's assurance that he would check the records and expunge anything that was said unparliamentary on either side, the opposition members made it clear that it would not allow the House to function until the Chief Minister apologise.

When the Speaker's attempts to run the House failed, he adjourned the House for ten minutes.

Earlier, Roads and Buildings and Ports Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana and Chief Minister Rajasekhara Reddy said it was the decision of the previous TDP government that making Machilipatnam Deepwater Port was not viable and it was now trying to pass the blame on the present government.

UNI