Accusing the ruling Telugu Desam Party of bidding good-bye to democratic norms, Opposition Leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy today demanded voting followed by a debate in the State Assembly on the much touted Capital issue of Andhra Pradesh State.
Talking to press persons at the Assembly premises here on Wednesday, the Opposition leader took potshots at Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for trying to take a unilateral decision on the announcement of the Capital city. Stating that the YSR Congress Party will participate in the voting process on the key issue of finalizing the Capital which must not be pro-rich, Jagan Reddy said that the ruling party cannot ignore the common man. The Chief Minister cannot dictate terms to all as there is a need for a debate in the house, Jagan Reddy said.
He sought to know whether democracy is prevailing in Andhra Pradesh. ‘Though we are not averse to the capital at any place, the government should ensure that it must pave way for poor people to eke out their livelihood in the capital’, he said.
Jagan Reddy’s remarks assume significance in the wake of the government preparing to set up the new capital at Mangalagiri adjoining Vijayawada city. As per AP Reorganisation Act the new capital needs about one lakh acres of forest land of which about 50,000 acres will go for construction of buildings and roads, Jagan said. To express their opinion on all such issues, the house must conduct a debate on the Capital issue, Jagan said. However, the Chief Minister is resorting to take unilateral decisions without taking the opposition into confidence, he alleged.
He alleged that Chnadrababu was trying to make every issue a controversy, which is not good. He expressed discontent that it is useless to conduct a debate after Chief Minister gives a statement giving clarity on the new capital. Earlier, in the Assembly, the YCP chief sought the Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao to give clarity at what time the debate will be conducted and how much time will be given to the opposition party to express its views. (NSS)