Farmers’ suicides rocks Telangana state
Ten Telugu Desam leaders suspended for a day for creating ruckus in assembly
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-11-08 02:28 GMT
Hyderabad: The issue of farmers’ suicides in Telangana state rocked the Legislative Assembly on Friday. Ten Telugu Desam legislators, including the floor leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao, were suspended for the day when they stalled proceedings to demand a debate on the issue.The TD Members also sought the sacking of Agriculture Minister Mr Pocharam Srinivas Reddy for reportedly saying that farmers were committing suicide due to family problems.The suspended members were escorted out by marshals as they did not respond to the pleas of Speaker Mr Madhusudhana Chary to leave the House.
The suspension came after the Speaker had to adjourn the House twice due to the pandemonium.Congress and BJP members also trooped into the well and stalled the proceedings, demanding a debate on farmers’ suicides and the ongoing power crisis.Minister for Legislative Affairs, Mr T. Harish Rao, moved the motion to suspend 10 TDP MLAs after repeated requests by the Speaker and the government failed to convince them to call off their agitation. The motion was approved by voice vote.
TDP floor leader Mr E. Dayakar Rao said, “During the five-month rule of TRS, as many as 387 farmers have committed suicide with the government failing to supply power. The deficit rainfall has forced farmers to rely entirely on borewells to save their crops. The maximum number of suicides by farmers were reported from Gajwel in Medak district, Chief Minister KCR's home constituency. This shows the inefficiency of his government.”
He further added, “While this is the pathetic situation of farmers, the Agriculture minister added salt to their wounds by commenting that farmers were committing suicide due to family problems and not because of power. We demand the government to seek an apology from the minister and sack him from the Cabinet for his irresponsible remarks."
His remarks led to an uproar with TRS MLAs rising from their seats and engaging in verbal duels with TDP MLAs.
Mr Harish Rao retorted, "Don't forget that Chandrababu had ordered firing on protestors at Basheerbagh when they demanded reduction in power charges."Chief Minister Mr Chandrasekhar Rao, who intervened in the issue, said, "The minister was misquoted by some section of the media. He is a son of a farmer and has a political career of over 40 years. He will never say something like that. The minister also met me and clarified that he had never said anything against farmers."
Opposition leader Mr K. Jana Reddy said, "Suspending fellow MLAs in the very first Budget session of the new Assembly is not a good. Please call them back."However, Mr Rao refused to do so saying that there were some procedures in the House that everyone had to follow. "They came with a single point agenda of stalling the House today. They wanted to create a scene here, get suspended and go to Gajwel to give ex gratia for farmers.”