T-pressure stalls Assembly on 4th day

For the fourth day in succession on Tuesday, determined Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Telugu Desam Party Members continued to stall the business in the State Assembly demanding the Chair to allow their Adjournment Motions on several issues, the main one being a resolution on Telangana statehood. However, their protests went in vain as Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar refused to concede to their demands.

In spite of the protests from the unrelenting opposition continuing, Mr Manohar too showed his determination and favoured the item on the agenda, Question Hour, to take precedence over all other issues.

Government Chief Whip Bhatti Vikarmarka reminded the Members to discuss the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address, but firm on their stand, the TRS and TDP members made attempts to proceed towards the Speaker’s podium, raising slogans which forced the chair to adjourn the House for the first time.

When the House reassembled, Mr Vikramarka continued his speech on the Motion of Thanks amidst protests from the opposition Legislators. As the TRS and TDP members did not relent and stepped up their slogan shouting, the House was adjourned again for a short period.

Later for some time a discussion on Governor’s speech went on, even as the opposition raised slogans in favour of Telangana statehood. At this stage, Mr Manohar appealed for cooperation and reminded the opposition to discuss the Motion of Thanks on Governor’s speech. But the protesting members continued raising slogans and tried to dash off again towards the Speaker’s podium. Finding the situation unfavourable to continue the business as scheduled, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for half an hour for the third time. Subsequently, Government Chief Whip Bhatti Vikaramarka and some Ministers met Mr Manohar in his chambers.

Earlier, speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor, Mr Vikramarka condemned the attack on the Governor by the legislators, stated that there was need to protect the rights of Legislators but it was important that all should condemn the action by the erring Members who chose to humiliate the Constitutional Head of the State. Amid the noise from the opposition benches, the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s speech was passed by the Deputy Speaker.  Before the Session of the House began, all party Members demanded an adjournment motion on separate Telangana. Besides, motion on lifting of suspensions on the five Legislators was favoured by TRS, on release of students by CPI while the CPM sought to put the Congress in the dock by urging it to clarify its stand on the separate Telangana statehood issue. The BJP meanwhile opted for a resolution calling the Centre to table a Bill on Telangana in Parliament.