Protests by TRS, TDP mar Governor's address

Hyderabad, Feb 11 (UNI) The Opposition Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members interrupted the address of Andhra Pradesh Governor N D Tiwari to the joint session of the State Legislature, as the budget session began on a stormy note today.

As the Governor rose to deliver his address, highlighting the priorities of the Congress Government, TRS members were on their feet, raising slogans demanding immediate grant of statehood for the Telangana region.

Showing pictures of Congress President Sonia Gandhi adorning TRS pink shawls on the eve of the last Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to remind the ruling Congress of its promise to fulfill the aspirations of the Telangana people for a separate State, the TRS members tore copies of the Governor's address and flung it towards the podium, even as Congress members expressed dismay over their ''unruly act''.

Raising slogans against the ruling Congress, the TRS members left the House after some time in a huff.

The TDP members also frequently disrupted the Governor's speech, demanding immediate stopping of the Babli irrigation project by the Vilasrao Deshmukh Government in Maharashtra and alleging irregularities in the implementation of Jalayangam irrigation project and other Government welfare schemes and developmental programmes, including Rajiv Arogyasri and INDIRAMMA.

Earlier, the TRS members also boycotted the customary breakfast meeting, hosted by Assembly Speaker K R Suresh Reddy and Council Chairman K R Chakrapani, for the floor leaders of various parties.

UNI SM VA LS DS1612