Oppn forces adjournment on masjid issue

Hyderabad, Mar 13 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned for a brief period as the opposition parties stalled the proceedings to press their demands.

The trouble began when Speaker K R Suresh Reddy announced that he was disallowing the adjournment motions given notice of by the TDP, CPI and CPI(M) on alleged corruption in irrigation projects and by the AIMIM on removal of a Masjid by the contractor of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamsabad.

Angry opposition members were on their feet demanding setting aside of listed business to take up the ''burning issues'' raised by them.

Taking strong objection to TDP members bringing into the house big banners to highlight ''corruption in irrigation projects'', the Speaker warned the TDP members that he would cut direct television transmission if they continued to behave in an irresponsible manner.

Following this, the TDP members removed the banners.

When his repeated appeals to members to raise their issues during the debate on demands for grants for various departments fell on deaf ears, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

When the House reassembled, the AIMIM members continued to obstruct the proceedings.

Order was restored after Minorities Welfare Minister Mohd Ali Shabeer assured the members that the ''beautiful'' masjid would be reconstructed soon.

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