Congress, Telugu Desam isolate YSRC

Hyderabad: After YSRC Floor leader Y.S. Vijayalakshmi’s speech in the Assembly on Thursday, YSRC MLAs went to the podium shouting Jai Samaikyandhra slogans and demanded the House vote on a resolution to keep the state united. On the directions of Speaker Nadendla Manohar, legislative affairs minister S. Sailajanath moved a resolution suspending the 15 MLAs of the YSRC.

In the Legislative Council five party MLCs were suspended. It was a tactical and shrewd move of the ruling Congress, Telugu Desam and other parties to isolate the YSRC to ensure that a discussion on the Telangana Bill takes place in the Assembly. The YSRC has been holding up the discussion with its disruptive activities for a week now.

Vijaylakshmi walked out from the Assembly to protest the House not accepting the demand for a vote. She and a dozen party MLAs were arrested by the police for trying to stage a dharna in front of the Gandhi statue outside the Assembly premises and blocking the traffic. They were taken to Ghoshamahal Stadium.

After he came to know about the arrest of the YSRC MLAs, D. Narendra of the TD condemned the arrests. He asked the government to take steps that the YSRC MLAs also participate in the debate. Responding to this, finance minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy said YSRC MLAs’ arrest has nothing to do with their suspension from the House.

“We have demanded a resolution on Samaikyandhra and voting on the Bill first. This will reveal how many are in favour of the bifurcation of the state and how many are opposed to it. But the ruling Congress in connivance with the TD is trying to bulldoze the issue,” Vijayalakshmi said at Ghoshamahal.

She said that Congress leader Digvijay Singh has made it clear that the Telangana Bill will be taken up in Parliament whether it is discussed in the AP Assembly or not. “We have our own fears. Our goal is to keep the state united. We will fight till January 23 in the Assembly,” she said.

The suspended MLAs staged a dharna in the lobbies of the Assembly and tried to push their way in again and had to be physically ejected by the marshals. Karunakar Reddy, YRCP MLA, said it was “highly undemocratic” to suspend the MLAs. “It’s now clear that the Congress and Telugu Desam are involved in the Telangana match fixing,” he said.

Sobha Nagi Reddy, deputy Floor leader, said the Assembly was being run under the direction of Chandrababu Naidu. “Naidu hasn’t spelt out whether he is in favour of Samaikhyandhra or bifurcation. If he is committed to united Andhra Pradesh, will he take back the letter favouring bifurcation,” she asked.

Next: TD MLA’s Remarks on Sonia rocks Assembly

TD MLA’s Remarks on Sonia rocks Assembly

Hyderabad:?Telugu Desam MLA Palle Raghunath Reddy’s remarks on AICC president Sonia Gandhi plunged the House into pandemonium and led to heated arguments between the ruling and opposition members on Thursday.

Speaking on the Telangana Bill, Raghunath Reddy blamed the AICC president for the state’s bifurcation. According to him, she did this in order to make her son Rahul Gandhi the next Prime Minister.

Objecting to the comments against Gandhi, Telangana Congress members went to the podium and demanded withdrawal of his remarks. At the same time, TD members also rushed to the podium and raised slogans against Gandhi. The Deputy Speaker, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka who was in the chair, adjourned the House for 10 minutes.