Andhra Pradesh Assembly: Visitors with passes stopped

Vijayawada: The Assembly marshals crew have been preventing the visitors from going towards the chamber of the leader of the opposition. This has been happening for the last few days. When asked about it, they are saying that the measure is to clear the rush at the chamber, as that is the way for galleries in the first floor of the Assembly. In fact, Guntur Rural SP has suggested to the Assembly chief marshal to allow the pass holders only strictly into the Assembly, and in contrast to that several persons are accompanying the MLAs and MLCs, without having any proper passes.

In fact, it has become a daily routine at the Assembly gate and even in the lobbies, and visitors are seen arguing with the marshals as to why they are not being allowed to go towards the chamber of the leader of the opposition. Even the Assembly marshals are giving the same treatment to the media, despite the fact that all the media men carry their Assembly passes. “It is unfortunate that the masrhals are not given proper training to identify as to who is the visitor and who is from the media,” a senior MLA said.

It may be recalled that MLA from Srikakulam district Gauthu Syam Sundar Shivajee was also prevented by Assembly marshals at the entrance gate three days ago, on which he has brought to the issue to the notice of the Speaker and also to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is also not happy with the way the marshals and the police are behaving, as their attitude is causing inconvenience to the ruling TD MLAs, MLCs and public representatives, who are coming to the Assembly as visitors.

While the Speaker has passed stringent rules that no person should be allowed into the Assembly premises without proper passes, the fact is that several visitors coming along with MLAs are not carrying any passes. Interestingly, the Assembly marshals are not asking anything, and preventing the visitors from not going towards the chamber of the leader of the opposition. When it was brought to the notice of the Assembly chief marshal Ganesh, he said that as such, they didn’t give any such instructions to the marshals.

“Because of the rush, marshals are trying to address the issues as per the situation,” he clarified, and added that media at large have 844 passes issued by the Assembly secretary, apart from the regular official passes.