Assembly fails to function on 2nd day over Telangana issue

The State Legislative Assembly could not carry out any business on the second consecutive day on Tuesday following stalling of proceedings by the members of Telangana Rashtra Samithi who demanded a resolution in favour of grant of statehood for the region.

As soon as the house met on Tuesday, TDP MLA D Narender Kumar gave an adjournment motion demanding discussion on tainted ministers and 26 controversial GOs. TRS floor leader Etala Rajender and BJP floor leader gave seperate adjournment motions demanding Telangana resolution in the House. On the other side, Srikanth Reddy of YSR Congress sought debate on power crisis, MIM's Akbaruddin Owaisi on hike in diesel prices, CPI's G Mallesh on amemdment of Excise Act and CPI (M)'s J Ranga Reddy wanted discussions on drinking water. However, all the adjournment motions were rejected by Speaker Nadendla Manohar.

The rejection immediately triggered protest and the TRS and BJP members rushed to the Speaker's podium insisting that the House pass a resolution on Telangana. Seeking the cooperation of TRS and BJP members, Legislative Affairs Minister D Sreedhar Babu said that session's agenda was decided in the meeting of Business Advisory Committee. However, he said that the parties were not following the agenda on the floor of the House.

Later, in an attempt to find a solution, the Speaker sought the opinion of all the parties on the issue. However, the issue got further diverted with the opposition leaders leveling charges against the government. While TDP's P Ashok Gajapathi Raju accused the government of shielding corrupt ministers, YRSCP floor leader Vijayamma said that people in the Telangana region were not happy and the government should immediately find a solution for Telangana issue. TRS floor leader Etala Rajender and BJP's E Lakhsminarayana insisted that the House pass a resolution on Telangana.

Meanwhile, Lok Satta leader Jayaprakash Narayan's allegation that about 800 employees of IBM have left Hyderabad for Bangalore due to Telangana agitation led to angry protest by the TRS MLAs and. Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao even broke the mike. He slammed Dr JP for his comments and alleged that the Lok Satta leader was concerned about the employees of a software company and not about 900 students who committed suicide for the statehood cause.

Heated argument also took place between Nagarkurnool MLA Nagam Janardharn Reddy and ministers - Danam Nagender and Mukesh Goud over the Telangana issue.

Amid the din, the Speaker adjourned the house for half-an-hour at around 9.40 am and called for a meeting of all floor leaders in his chamber. However, the meeting failed to arrive at a consensus on the issue.

When the House resumed at around 11.46 am, the TRS and other pro-Telangana members continued their protest. Meanwhile, Speaker Nadendla Manohar read out a resolution on the controversial anti-Islam film appealing the Centre to impose a ban on the film on You Tube and other social networking sites. He said that the resolution was being passed to maintain communal harmony in the State.

However, as soon as the Speaker finished reading the resolution, BJP's G Kishan Reddy raised objection to the resolution against anti-Islam film. Referring to the same resolution, Harish Rao and Nagam Janardhan Reddy said that the Telangana resolution too could be introduced and passed in not more than five minutes. Amid the din, the Speaker adjourned the House till Thursday.