Telangana Assembly's budget session begins with protests

Giving a clear indication of what is in store for the next few days, the major opposition parties lodged protests on the inaugural day of budget session of Telangana State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

Maintaining the tradition of having a unique entry into the Assembly on the inaugural day, the Congress party MLAs came to the House by wearing black scarves to highlight the State Government's failure to tide over power crisis and prevent farmers' suicides. Similarly, clad in safron dress, BJP MLAs came to the Assembly by holding lanterns. Before coming to the House, the TDP members went to NTR Ghat to pay homage to party founder and late Chief Minister N T Rama Rao. The MIM members, led by Akbaruddin Owaisi, were clad in traditional Sherwanis.

Led by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, TRS MLAs entered the house by wearing pink 'khandwas'. Earlier, KCR inaugurated the TRS Legislature Party office in Assembly premises.

All members, across party lines greeted each other before the beginning of the session. While the session started at 11 AM, Finance Minister Etala Rajender started his budget speech three minutes later. He faced several interruptions by the Congress, TDP and BJP members. About four minutes before the conclusion of his speech, all opposition members walked out of the House at 12.03 PM.