The Assembly on Wednesday passed Vote-on-account Budget for the next financial year amidst slogan shouting by members from Telangana who walked into the well of the House in protest against obstacles to bifurcation Bill from Seemandhra leaders.
Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayan Reddy put the Budget to vote when the Speaker Nadendla Manohar, ignoring the slogans, asked him to read out the annual financial statement, supplementary estimates and Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill. Mr. Manohar then announced passage of the Budget even as deputy leader of Telugu Desam P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju protested that it could not be done without a discussion.
Mr. Reddy sought for the government Rs. 79,469 crore in advance to meet essential expenditure for a part of the next financial year and Rs. 11,327 crore for further expenditure in the current year. The Appropriation Bill will be presented on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Speaker adjourned the House for little over one-and-half hour after TRS and a few Telangana Congress legislators, including Government Chief Whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy, gathered near the podium and raised slogans soon after day’s sitting began.
Adjournment noticeThe MIM members too moved into the well after their adjournment notice on strike by GHMC employees was rejected by the Chair. He also disallowed similar notices given by YSRC leader Vijayamma on expenditure relating to government works without Cabinet approval, CPI leader, G. Mallesh on problems of Anganwadi and other unorganised sector workers and CPI(M) member J. Ranga Reddy on municipal employees strike.
The Legislative Council could not take up any discussion on the Vote-on-account with the Telangana Congress members insisting that the Chairman should first set right the Government resolution adopted in the House unilaterally rejecting the Telangana Bill.
CounteredIn the meantime, Nannapaneni Rajakumari who was on fast since yesterday protesting against bifurcation came to the well with a placard while Telangana Congress members also trooped into the well raising Jai Telangana slogans. They were countered by Seemandhra Congress members with Jai Samaikhyandhra slogans forcing the Chairman to adjourn the House.
