Congress MLCs walk out on loan waiver issue

Members of the Congress staged a walkout from the Legislative Council on Thursday during the question hour to express discontent on government inaction on waiver of farmers’ loans.

Leader of Opposition, Mohammed Ali Shabbir who led the walkout after one hour of commencement of the question hour said that the government had failed to give a satisfactory reply on when it would waive the loans.

“In the Legislative Assembly the Chief Minister failed to give a satisfactory answer. Congress MLAs who were protesting for farmers’ rights were arrested and removed by the State police,” Mr. Shabbir pointed out.

Congress legislators had staged a protest in front of the Legislative Assembly after the Speaker adjourned Thursday’s session following protests from the opposition on farmers’ suicides, he added.

Congress legislators including, P. Sudhakar Reddy, Akula Lalitha and M.S. Prabhakar Rao who walked out among others returned to the house only after the question hour.