Hyderabad: The Congress Legislature Party, that met on Saturday evening, has decided not to boycott the special Legislature session on Sunday as sought by some of its leaders. The special session is being convened to adopt the amendments suggested by the Centre to the state’s Land Acquisition Bill.
However, the Congress has decided that it would insist on discussion on the plight of farmers in the state and stall the proceedings in both the Houses.
Earlier, the party legislators were inclined towards boycotting the one-day session to protest against the Chief Minister’s unsavoury comments against the Congress.
However, the ransacking of the Khammam market yard by farmers who were denied remunerative prices for their chilli produce forced a change in the Congress plans. When the CLP met on Saturday, there was a discussion on the boycott proposal.
It was finally decided that the Congress, being the main Opposition party, should not take such a drastic step as boycotting the House as it may sound a wrong message that it was unable to corner the government and hence was making excuses.
It was decided that Congress Members would attend the House and insist on a debate on the situation prevailing in the state with regard to farmers not getting a reasonable price for their produce.
“We will insist on a debate and will go to the extent of stalling the proceedings,” Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Mohd. Ali Shabbir told newsmen.
PCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said there was no urgency on the part of government to take up amendments to the Land Acquisition Bill and House can be extended for the purpose. “Before anything else, there must be a discussion on farmers’ issues, something which we will not compromise on,” Mr Reddy said.
