It was the Constitutional obligation and not his concern for farmers, which forced Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to convene the monsoon session of Telangana Legislative Assembly and Council, said Leader of Opposition in Council Mohammed Al Shabbir.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday, Shabbir Ali said that the just concluded session was convened by KCR from September 23 to prevent his cabinet and government from being dissolved. As per Article 85 of the Constitution of India, it is mandatory to convene Assembly session once in every six months. Failing which, might lead to dissolution of the Cabinet and even House. Since last Assembly session concluded on March 26, KCR could not have delayed the session this time even by a day, he said.
“Prior to session, TRS Government made tall claims that it was ready to hold the session as the long as the opposition wanted. However, debate on farmers was held for two days and it remained inconclusive with the State Government not coming up with a concrete assurance to farming community. On October 1, Assembly was adjourned in just seven minutes and in the next sitting, entire opposition was suspended from the House for remainder of the session. No public issues were discussed during the monsoon session,” said Shabbir Ali.
Shabbir Ali said that the previous Congress regime had a history of holding Assembly sessions for about 40 days, the TRS Government has damaged it santity by summoning the Assembly and Council session only a formality. In 2014, the Assembly functioned for just 25 days and this year, the period got reduced to just 22 days. “KCR openly enacted the drama of Assembly session and ran away from debating public issues. After the suspension of entire opposition, the Assembly session turned into TRS Legislature Party meeting. It KCR was serious, then he should have continued the session till October 10, as decided by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC). Instead, he wind up the session three days earlier showing utter respect for democracy, Constitution and Legislative norms,” he said.
Referring to the statement made by KCR in Assembly on Wednesday, Shabbir Ali ridiculed KCR’s contention that funds meant for welfare of minorities and other weaker sections were not spent due to insufficient staff. He said this year just 19% of funds allocated for SC, ST, BC and Minorities Welfare were spent. Why the shortage of staff is not reducing spending on on pet schemes like Mission Kakatiya, Water Grid and other publicity stunts? he asked. He also accused KCR of again misleading the House on the issue of 12% Muslim reservation. He said Dr Amerullah Khan, one of the member of Sudhir Committee, has openly stated that the committee could not recommend reservation and the same has to be done by a BC Commission. “Instead of constituting a BC Commission, KCR is dragging the issue of 12% Muslim quota by making false promises. It is ridiculous that KCR wants to pass a resolution on 12% Muslim quota in Assembly and send it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP Government for approval. Will Modi give nod for Muslim quota?” he asked.
Shabbir Ali said that just concluced Assembly session has exposed KCR’s weakness in acting in a democratic set-up. He simple fulfilled a Constitutional obligation, enacted a drama for few days and then ran away from debating public issues, he said.
Congress MLC M.S. Prabhakar Rao was also present. (INN)