Demands for YSV's sacking resound in Council

The opposition members of the Legislative Council on Monday strongly condemned the incident in the Assembly stating that the behaviour of Agriculture Minister Ys Vivekanand Reddy who had attempted to manhandle a TDP Member on the Floor of the House was ‘unwarranted and mockery of democracy’.

The opposition Members demanded the immediate suspension of Mr Vivekananda Reddy from the Cabinet for his irresponsible behaviour.

Raising the issue on the Floor of the Council after the break, Leader of the Opposition D Veerabhadra Rao alleged that the behaviour of the Minister who is also a leader of the Legislative Council assaulting the Member of the opposition has degraded the image of the Elders’ House. The TDP leader demanded that YSV should be immediately suspended from the Cabinet.

Ministers losing patience on the Floor of both the Houses (Assembly and Council) have become the order of the day, they are provoking the opposition Members under one pretext or the other, Mr Veerabhadra Rao stated. He said if there is no protection and safety of the elected representatives on the Floor of the Assembly, one can understand the fate of the common man.

The TDP leader added that if the Deputy Speaker had taken stern action against those MLAs indulged in pushing the Governor and also attack on Lok Satta Party MLA Jayaprakash Narayan, today’s incident would have been averted.

Mr P Nageshwar Rao opined that Mr Vivekananda might have lost his mental balance, he should be examined by a doctor. “A normal person cannot behave in such manner on the Floor of the Assembly,” he stated.

CPM Member Ch Seetaramulu too took strong objections on the behaviour of Agriculture Minister and he too joined the demand of his sacking from the Cabinet.

Defending the Agriculture Minister, Whip of the Council Shivaram Reddy said that without knowing the facts, the opposition has no right to demand suspension of Mr Vivekananda Reddy.