Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Drought continues to dominate proceedings

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Feb. 25. The Opposition criticism of the Government over what it calls "inadequate drought relief measures" continued to dominate the proceedings in the Legislative Assembly even as CPI (M) members supported actively by the Congress stalled the proceedings for almost an hour on Tuesday.

The CPI (M) members were demanding that the Government take up works under the Food-for-work programme for creating employment opportunities in rural areas and opening of gruel centres to rescue starving people with immediate effect.

Immediately as the House assembled for the day, the CPI (M) members, N Narsimhaiah and S Rajaiah, who entered the House carrying placards demanded that the Government spell out steps for drought relief before taking up further proceedings. However, taking objections over the way the CPI (M) members displayed the party banners in the House, the Minister for Finance, Y Ramakrishnudu, said that the issue was slated for discussion on March 4 and the Government was prepared to answer all the queries raised by the opposition members.

The unrelenting CPI (M) members, however, insisted that the Government come out clear on the drought relief measures proposed to be taken by the Government. Repeated requests made by the Speaker, K Pratibha Bharati, to the CPI (M) members to resume their seats and allow the proceedings went in vain even as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party,Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy, who intervened at this juncture demanded that the Minister for Home issue a statement on what he called the atrocious lathi-charge on the agitating CPI (M) activists yesterday.

The CLP leader also criticised the Government for announcing that a special round of Janmabhoomi on drought would be organised for a week from tomorrow. "The government's announcement without taking the House into confidence amounts to violation of the Constitution and it clearly shows that the Government is against the MLAs' participation in the Janmabhoomi programme,'' he said demanding that the Government adjourn the Assembly till March 4 facilitating legislators' participation in the Janmabhoomi. Defending the Government's decision to organise the drought Janmabhoomi programme, Mr Ramakrishnudu charged the Opposition with stalling the administration from taking up relief works in the interest of the people. He, however, expressed happiness that the CLP leader had at least now recongised the importance of the Janmabhoomi programme. Mr Reddy, however, maintained that he wanted participation of the people's representatives to ensure that the programme was implemented effectively and not because the programme did any benefit to the people in the previous rounds. It was only after Mr Goud assured that he had no objection to make a statement on the lathicharge that the opposition members allowed the proceedings to continue.

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