Unruly scenes in Andhra assembly, TDP members suspended

HYDERABAD - The Andhra Pradesh assembly saw unruly scenes Tuesday evening after legislators of the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were suspended from the house for the day for stalling the proceedings with their demand for a debate on the farmers’ problems.

The suspended members refused to leave the house, and clashed with marshals who were called by the deputy speaker to physically lift them out of the premises.

At least three TDP legislators came out with torn shirts. They also received bruises in the melee.

Terming it as the dark day in legislative history, the opposition legislators squatted in the lobbies and at the entrance and decided to spend the night in the assembly premises to register their protest.

Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu condemned the attitude of the government and Deputy Speaker N. Manohar towards the opposition.

State Minister for Revenue Raghuveera Reddy alleged that the TDP members attacked a member of the ruling party and marshals, uprooted the mikes and damaged other property of the assembly.

The trouble began after the deputy speaker rejected the TDP demand to continue the debate on the farmers’ issue, which had remained inconclusive in the morning session. He wanted to go ahead with the government business, including the passing of bills.

The bills, which were to come up, include a bill to regulate Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in the state. The members of ruling and opposition parties traded charges when Raghuveera Reddy alleged that the TDP had colluded with MFIs to stall the bill.

TDP member P. Keshav said people knew about the links Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had with MFIs.

Naidu said since the ordinance was already in force and the government had six months to pass the bill, the house should take up debate on farmers’ problems.