Hyderabad, March 25: The stalemate over the demand for constitution of a Joint Legislature Committee to inquire into “irregularities” in land allocation since 2004 continued for the seventh consecutive day on Thursday forcing adjournment of the Legislative Assembly without transacting any business.
The main Opposition Telugu Desam and other parties insisted that the Government concede the demand for the JLC even as the Treasury Benches stood its ground that a decision on the issue could be taken only if a debate was allowed in the House.
Opposition Leader N. Chandrababu Naidu charged the powers that be with doling out largesse to “favoured industry”, adequate proof on which had been submitted to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.
While Mr. Naidu was firm that any debate on the issue could take place only if an assurance on forming a JLC was given, but Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy said the decision would be based on the outcome of the debate. Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar at one stage sought the views of the House to break the deadlock as the business was being disrupted for days together.
Mr. Naidu recalled that the winter session of the Parliament was lost over the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the 2-G Spectrum case and the UPA was ultimately forced to concede the demand. “We are in no mood to relent till the JLC is constituted,” he said adding he had no objection if the panel was asked to probe allocations made during his tenure too.
Mr. Naidu received support from MIM floor leader Asaduddin Owaisi who said a major chunk of the land allotted to the industry belonged to Wakf. Other parties including the CPI, CPI (M) and the BJP insisted on the constitution of a house panel while Praja Rajyam Party member Vanga Geetha said it was for the Government to take appropriate steps to clear the air.
Industries Minister J. Geetha Reddy charged the Opposition with vitiating the industrial climate in the State and this was hampering the flow of investments.
–Agencies