The Hindu : `Stall-all' attitude led to their suspension

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

`Stall-all' attitude led to their suspension

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD March 22. Thirtythree Congress and two CPI(M) members of the Assembly were suspended for a day on Saturday when they stalled the proceedings demanding that the Government announce ex gratia to farmers who committed suicide.

Among those suspended were the Leader of the Opposition, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. Marshals were summoned when the suspended members who held placards and kept up a chant of "All suicides are murders committed by the Government,'' refused to leave the House. Some of these members had to be physically lifted out of the House by the marshals.

Deputising for the Legislative Affairs Minister, the Revenue Minister, P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, moved the motion of suspension and it was adopted by the House amid protests by the Congress benches. After the suspension, the Congress members went out and shouting slogans tried to stage a dharna at the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu's chambers and broke the glasspanes of the door. From suspension, the discussion then veered round the "pre-planned attack'' on the Chief Minister's chambers. Several Ministers, Telugu Desam, BJP and Majlis members condemned the incident.

It all began when P. Venugopal Reddy (Congress) who raised the issue during zero hour, said whenever the Congress came up with the demand for ex gratia during the last five years, the State Government used to cite the example of Karnataka. But now the Karnataka Government had announced payment of Rs. 1 lakh as ex gratia each to the deceased farmer apart from waiving interest on cooperative loans, working out to Rs. 180 crores. The State Government should follow suit and announce the same, as 37 farmers had committed suicide during the last three months.

The other Congress members supported him, stood up and demanded that the Government announce the ex gratia. The Agriculture Minister, Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao, said the Congress members could not expect an elaborate reply for an issue raised in zero hour. He could not go beyond saying he has made a note of it. It would be better if they raise it during the debate on the demand relating to Agriculture.

The Speaker, K. Pratibha Bharathi, too said since there was limited scope in zero hour, the Congress members could bring it up in another form.

But the Congress members holding placards, rushed to the front row and insisted on the Government announcing the ex gratia immediately. The Revenue Minister lost no time in moving the motion for suspension, saying the Congress members were taking the House to ransom by persistently obstructing it.

When the CPI(M) member, S. Rajaiah, moved to the well of the House and the party's floor leader N. Narasimhaiah, rose to speak in support the Congress demand, the Revenue Minister again moved another motion seeking their suspension. The Majlis members staged a walkout.

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