Opposition parties on Thursday raked up the issue of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy writing a letter to the President Pranab Mukherjee seeking four weeks time on the debate on AP Reorganisation Bill 2014.
At the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) chaired by Speaker Nadendla Manohar soon after a communiqué was received from the President, TDP, TRS, MIM, BJP and Left parties’ leaders cornered the Government wanting to know whether Mr. Reddy could take such a decision.
TDP member E.Dayakar Rao, MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi and TRS leader T.Harish Rao questioned the propriety of the Chief Minister in seeking extension of time. Mr. Dayakar Rao sought to know in what capacity the Chief Minister had written to the President without even discussing the matter in Cabinet meet and against the BAC decision earlier that extension of time would be sought only on its recommendation.
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Mr. Owaisi reportedly faulted the Chief Minister wondering whether the presiding officer was not capable of deciding on the extension of time.
“It is the Speaker/Chairman who can take a call on extension of time based on the number of days the House has held its sittings and number of members, who have aired their views,” he remarked.
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At one stage, Mr. Dayakar Rao and Finance Minister exchanged words when the former tried to blame the Chief Minister for his unilateral decision. “Chief Minister’s actions are not correct. Even Mr. Jana Reddy has opposed his speech,” the TDP MLA said prompting Mr. Ramanarayana Reddy to hit back telling him that it was none of his business to talk about their internal affair.
“You cannot dictate terms to us. Did we say anything when your party MLAs from Seemandhra oppose bifurcation and you are all for it,” he said. BJP member Y. Srinivas Reddy alleged that the Chief Minister was again planning to write another letter to the President seeking further extension of time to debate the Bill.
YSR Congress and the Seemandhra Congress Ministers once again sought clarity on voting on the amendments to the clauses amid strong opposition from other opposition parties. YSR Congress deputy leader flayed absence of Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in BAC meeting and criticised the government for not giving clarity on voting on the Bill and a resolution in favour of united AP.
CPI MLA G. Mallesh said the BAC was unanimous in giving all the members an opportunity to speak for at least 3 to 5 minutes on the Bill.