CM loses temper as BJP question's Sonia's origin

Hyderabad, Mar 4 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today defended Congress President Sonia Gandhi when BJP Floor Leader G Kishan Reddy made a remark on her nationality.

The Chief Minister, who was speaking after TRS members resigned from the State Assembly, angrily asked the BJP member to show restraint.

Defending Ms Gandhi, he said questioning her nationality amounted to ''insult''. She had lived with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for over 40 years and was fully an Indian, he added.

The Chief Minister angrily asked the BJP member to stop making baseless allegations when the latter made frequent interruptions on the subject.

The House also witnessed heated exchanges when TDP Legislature Party Deputy Leaders T Devender Goud and N Janardhan Reddy made a sarcastic reference to cancellation of Ms Gandhi's scheduled Public Meeting in the city on March 14.

Roads and Buildings Minister T Jeevan Reddy and Minorities Welfare Minister Mohd Ali Shabeer took strong objection to the TDP members' charge that she had cancelled the meetings out of fear in the wake of the resignation of TRS MPs from the Lok Sabha.

Offering to resign their seats, the two TDP leaders challenged the ruling Congress members from Telagana to follow suit and face them in byelections.

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