Hyderabad, March 02: The Assembly plunged into pandemonium again on Tuesday, this time with the TDP and MIM members rushing to the podium demanding a full-scale debate over the Kakarapalli firing and a statement by the government on the non-cooperation agitation by Telangana employees, respectively. Deputy Speaker N. Manohar, as a result, was forced to adjourn the House for the day after a sitting for 25 minutes cumulatively. TDP members crowded the podium as the session began, seeking a debate on the police firing after the Chair disallowed the adjournment motions tabled by the CPI, CPI (M) and BJP, besides their party. While Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu assured that Home Minister P. Sabitha Reddy would make a statement after Question Hour, Leader of the Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu insisted on a debate straightway. After making a vain bid to get the TDP members back to their seats through appeals and assurances about the Home Minister’s statement, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for a 10-minute break, which, however, lasted more than three hours. When it reassembled, five MIM members rushed to the podium. MIM Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi wanted a statement by the government on the non-cooperation agitation of the Telangana staff also, as it had affected the administration, subjecting people to untold hardships. Intervening, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said the government was well aware of all problems and was trying all means to solve them. “We are ready to make a statement on any issue and will not go back on this commitment. But if the proceedings are obstructed, how is a statement possible?”
He asked the Opposition to prioritise subjects on which the government should make statements. The Deputy Speaker joined him saying an extempore statement would not be possible on an issue raised all of a sudden.
Even as the Home Minister began reading out her statement on the police firing, Mr Owasi continued “till our demand is met, we will keep agitating.” With MIM members remaining at the podium, the chair adjourned the House for the day.
-Agencies