Opposition disrupts Andhra Pradesh Assembly

Opposition parties on Wednesday disrupted the proceedings in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly demanding that the state pass a resolution requesting the Centre to amend the Constitution to make Hyderabad part of a specific area following a Supreme Court order declaring it a “free zone“.

The opposition TDP, CPI, CPM and BJP pressed for a discussion on the issue through an adjournment motion but Speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy rejected the plea.

After a 15-minute adjournment of the House on the issue, Chief Minister K Rosaiah asserted that Hyderabad would form part of Zone-6 but said any discussion on it in the Assembly would not be proper as the case was still in court.

He also called a meeting of floor leaders of all parties in the evening to discuss the issue and the next course of action in the light of the apex court’s verdict.

When TDP deputy leader Nagam Janardhana Reddy insisted on a debate in the House and also objected to the Chief Minister’s claim that the matter was ‘sub judice’, the latter reacted angrily saying he would step down from his post if he had used the word sub judice.

CPI, CPM and BJP leaders also favoured a resolution seeking Constitutional amendment on the issue.

“If mere passing of a resolution will help solve the problem, we have no objection to it.But that’s not enough and we have to put in extra efforts. We all shall sit and discuss the course of action to be adopted,” the Chief Minister said.

This pacified the members and the House then took up the Question Hour.