The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Power supply issue rocks Assembly

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Thursday, Dec 04, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Power supply issue rocks Assembly

Special Correspondent

Entire Opposition barring BJP walks out of the House

YSR takes exception to Naidu’s remarks against Mohd. Ali Shabbir
Telugu Desam members demand measures to save standing crop

HYDERABAD: The Assembly was rocked on Wednesday on the issue of irregular power supply to the farm sector as Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members traded charges of “inefficiency”.

Proceedings were disrupted for nearly two hours when the TDP members raised slogans against the government’s failure to fulfil its promise of providing supply for seven hours to farmers. The entire Opposition, barring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), staged a walkout even as Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy launched a trenchant attack on the TDP for pushing the energy sector into crisis.

TDP faulted

Even before the Chief Minister completed his reply, the TDP members trooped back demanding that the government announce immediate measures to save the standing crop. Congress members criticised the TDP for “violating tradition” in returning to the House after staging a walkout even while the issue was being discussed.

The Chief Minister flayed Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu for his comments against Energy Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir. Mr. Naidu, while asserting that the Congress government was unable to implement the reforms initiated by him, charged the Minister with furnishing “false information” to the House.

The tone in which Mr. Naidu addressed the Minister irked Dr. Reddy, who shot back, “Is this the way to address a colleague, particularly one hailing from the minority community?”

Survey results

He said the TDP chief was frustrated over adverse results of surveys he had ordered to assess the public mood.

The Congress, he claimed, would ride the crest of a positive vote and come back to power. Dr. Reddy wondered how Mr. Naidu could sign power purchase agreements with gas-based power projects when they had no firm allocation of gas.

The Chief Minister held that all sections of people were watching the promises being showered by Mr. Naidu, a person who had stoutly opposed subsidies during his nine-year tenure. He claimed that a majority of members, including N. Janardhan Reddy of the TDP, would not be re-elected.

Energy Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir offered to visit the places suggested by the members in their respective constituencies wherever there were problems relating to power supply to farm, sector. Finance Minister K. Rosaiah said the Opposition parties made tall claims of exposing the government’s failures before the session but they confined themselves to seeking publicity when the Assembly session began.

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