MIM Floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi has expressed strong objection at the Speaker taking up discussion on demands, without tabling the relevant policy statements on demands and the ‘outcome budget’ documents.
After the Congress party members walked- out on Sunday protesting against the government not continuing the discussion on drought conditions in the state, the Speaker has taken up discussion on demands for grants and asked the TRS member Guvvala Balaraju to initiate the discussion.
Sharply reacting on it, Akbaruddin Owaisi said that the government has to give one day time to the members to read the documents after tabling them. The government has tabled only Housing and Minority Welfare demands and the outcome budget, he said. The Speaker then said that the books were given yesterday. Akbaruddin replied that the government has given the books Saturday night at 11pm.
BJP Floor leader Dr K Laxman too said the same and added that the government has to initiate the discussion on Monday, after giving time to the opposition parties. TDP member A Revanth Reddy said that the opposition parties would prepare on the subject if the books were given before one day. He requested the government to continue the discussion on drought today as already the discussion held for some time. CPM member Sunnam Rajaiah also supported Revanth.
At this juncture, the Speaker tried to take up the discussion on demands once again. Expressing objection on it, Akbaruddin said that it was not proper on the part of the Speaker to take up demands, and wanted action be taken against the persons responsible for delay in providing books to the members. “Sir, we are not genius as TRS members and we need one day time”, he said.
CPI and YSRCP Ravindra Kumar and Payam Venkateshwarlu respectively wanted the Speaker to continue the discussion on drought.
The Speaker once again tried to take up discussion on demands and asked TRS member Balaraju to start the discussion.
Reacting seriously, Akbaruddin said that it was sad and asked how the Speaker can allow the discussion today. .
Panchayatraj Minister KT Rama Rao said that Akbaruddin was contradicting his own statement. “First Akbaruddin said that there was no problem if the ruling party takes up discussion on demands, but the same member was contradicting his own statement”, he said.
Then Akbaruddin said that only demands and outcome on Minority Welfare and Housing were tabled. The member has to speak on them only, if not the MIM will stage a walk out. “I don’t want to be part of the House if it takes up discussion on other demands”, he said.
Admitting the mistake, KTR said that the mistake will not be repeated in future. The government will provide demand notes in time.
Laxman said that the issue relates to the prestige of the Speaker, and not that of the ruling and opposition parties. “We too will stage walk out if the Speaker takes up discussion on demands”, he said. At this juncture, the Speaker adjourned the House for tea break.
After the House resumed, the Speaker asked Balaraju to initiate discussion on Minority Welfare and
Women and Child Welfare. The Speaker adjourned the House after Balaraju’s speech. (NSS)