Andhra chief minister apologises to governor

HYDERABAD - Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Thursday apologised to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan for the chaos in the legislature, with members tearing up copies of his address to the joint session of both houses.

Terming it as a black day in the history of the state legislature, he told reporters that the incidents both inside the house and in the premises were shameful.

“It is a black day… We are feeling ashamed … and are apologising to the governor on behalf of all,” he said.

A grim-looking Kiran Kumar briefly addressed the media before reaching Raj Bhavan to meet Narasimhan.

Telangana legislators belonging to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and other parties heckled the governor, forcing him to cut short his speech.

They tore copies of his speech and threw the papers at him. A TRS legislator even tried to uproot the mike and snatch papers from him.

The chief minister also condemned attack on Lok Satta chief Jaiprakash Narayan in the assembly premises. “In a democracy everybody has a right and freedom to express his opinion,” said Kiran Kumar.

Jaiprakash was manhandled allegedly by TRS legislators after he condemned the behavior of the legislators during the governor’s address.

Kiran Kumar said Deputy Speaker Nandendla Manohar would take appropriate action after a detailed review and would also take steps to prevent such incidents in future.