Oppn forces adjournment of House over Babli issue

Hyderabad, Mar 28 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned twice as the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) stalled the proceedings over ''illegal'' construction of Babli and 11 other projects across the river Godavari by Maharashtra.

Soon after question hour, TDP members urged Speaker K R Suresh Reddy to take up a discussion on the ''burning issue'' immediately.

Even as the Speaker pleaded with the members to wait for a discussion on the issue, which was listed later for the day, the TDP members rushed towards the podium, raising slogans demanding halting of the ''illegal'' projects.

With no signs of restoration of normalcy, the Speaker adjourned the House to meet again in the evening.

Earlier in the day, the TDP members disrupted the proceedings during Question Hour when mike was denied to Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu after Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy accused the former of indulging in mud-slinging at his Government on the Babli issue.

When the Speaker made it clear that the Assembly procedures did not permit allotment of time to the opposition after it had registered its protest, the TDP members stalled the proceedings.

After repeated appeals to resume their seats, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

UNI