MIM cries foul, stages walkout

Protests against Speaker for ‘denying’ them an opportunity to speak on unemployment issue

The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was at the receiving end of All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) in the Assembly on Monday, when the latter’s MLAs staged a walkout protesting against Speaker S. Madhusudana Chary not giving them an opportunity even to seek clarification during the short discussion on the unemployment issue.

Floor Leader of MIM Akbaruddin Owaisi took strong exception to the ruling party’s attitude of not sparing “even one minute to an alliance partner and friendly party”.

The treasury benches who defended the Speaker’s action explained that only signatories to the issue raised under Rule 344 were allowed to speak and G. Chinna Reddy of Congress was given opportunity as he had a related question in the listed business but it was not taken up during the Question Hour.

Legislative Affairs Minister T. Harish Rao said it was decided in Business Advisory Council (BAC) meeting that only signatories would be allowed to speak/seek clarification during the short discussion.

The Speaker allowed K. Laxman (BJP) and Mr. Chinna Reddy to speak on the issue and N.V.S.S. Prabhakar (BJP) to seek clarification.

After being denied an opportunity to speak on the issue in spite of his repeated pleas, Mr. Owaisi, however, was given the mike to register his protest. Protesting the Chair’s and ruling party’s attitude Mr. Owaisi went on to say that he would quit his membership, if the government proved that the reason being cited was there in the BAC minutes.

He accused the ruling party that in its strategy to deny opportunity of speaking to the TDP, it was also stifling the voice of a friendly party that had been unconditionally supporting the government. He pointed out that why everybody was allowed to speak on the power issue which was raised under the same rule earlier in the session. “Is it because, it was convenient to the government”, he questioned.

“Is this the way friendly parties are treated. Learn how to treat your friends first. Government won’t have answers, if we want to expose it,” Mr. Owaisi said in high-pitch. He said he only wanted to request the government to increase quota for Muslims in government jobs, relaxing rule of reservation in filling Urdu teacher posts and allowing Muslims candidates to take competitive examinations in Urdu language.