Nagam steals show in House

In the first hour on Monday, Telugu Desam Party MLA from Mahabubnagar district Nagam Janardhan Reddy tried to dominate the cause of the ‘separate Telangana’ and stole the show raising full throated ‘Jai Telangana’ slogans, demanding a discussion on the subject in the House.

Despite the Chair’s advice to him to resume his seat, Mr Janardhan Reddy up to the Speaker’s podium and continued his slogan shouting. Repeated pleas from the Chair not to obstruct the proceedings went in vain as the TDP MLA continued his outburst.

With this, the Assembly was adjourned for 10 minutes. Even after the House reassembled Mr Janardhan Reddy continued his ‘protest’ by squatting in front of the podium, saying he was prepared to face any action and that he would go to the people with this complaint.

Meanwhile, the Congress Members from Telangana region continued to boycott the proceedings. With this, the strength on the Floor of the House was minimal.

Earlier, when the House assembled for the day, Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar disallowed three adjournment motions moved by the TDP, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

These three motions pertained to the farmers facing hardships while trying to sell their discoloured rice, the introduction of the Telangana Bill in Parliament and the problems being faced by the gram sevaks, by the TDP, BJP and the CPM respectively.

After disallowing the adjournment motions, Mr Manohar called for the Question Hour to be taken up, brushing aside objections by the TDP Members who demanded that the farmers’ problems be discussed. Meanwhile, Mr Janardhan Reddy continued his protest in favour of Telangana, disrupting the proceedings, forcing the first adjournment after 10 minutes of the House assembling for the day.

At about 9:50 AM, the House reassembled, Mr Janardhan Reddy continued his protest, and vowed to carry on till he collapses. Replenishing his energies with a  glass of cool water, Mr Janardhan Reddy carried on.

Earlier, as soon as the Question Hour was taken up, Mr Janardhan Reddy started his pro-Telangana slogans, much against the will of the Samaikhandhra TDP Members. They were seen trying to convince Mr Janardhan Reddy to call off his protest, but he continued.

TDP Members Mandava Venkateshwara Rao, Tummala Nageshwara Rao, Yerrabelli Dayakar Rao and Motkupally Narasimha advised him not to block the Question Hour and resume his seat.

Disregarding his colleagues’ opposition, Mr Janardhan Reddy held a placard and continued his protest demanding a discussion on ‘Telangana’. There was a heated argument between him and other TDP members from Andhra region. In spite of appeals from the Chair, the protest continued forcing Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar to adjourn the House again for a break.

Mr Janardhan Reddy’s ‘Jai Telangana’ slogans induced Minister for Marketing and Warehousing M Mukesh Goud who is from Hyderabad to support the former by thumping his desk.

S Venkata Veeraiah, Dayakar Reddy and M Narasimhulu entered into a heated argument with Mr Janardhan Reddy for blocking the listed Question Hour while TDP president and Leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu sat through the whole incident, observing the happenings silently.

When the House reassembled again after the break, Mr Janardhan Reddy maintained his one-man show against the state government and continued to raise slogans in favour of ‘Telangana.’ The Deputy Speaker asked him to resume his seat several times.

Mr Janardhan Reddy’s non-stop protests propelled another Telangana MLA, Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy to join issue with him. Not seen to be lagging behind Mr Srinivasa Reddy too stood up and raised slogans.

Finding the situation going out of control, the Chair adjourned the House for the day.