Council Pandemonium During Discussion on Governor’s Address
YSR Congress members storm podium amid fee-reimbursement row
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council witnessed pandemonium for the second consecutive day, with the YSR Congress members climbing up the podium of the chairman here on Friday.
Soon after the Council session began and Chairman Koyye Moshenu Raju opened the Question Hour, heated arguments erupted on the issue of fee-reimbursement.
Education minister Nara Lokesh stated that theYSR Congress government left nearly Rs 4,000 crore pending vis-à-vis fees reimbursement. Leader of the opposition Botsa Satyanaraya rejected the charge, saying, “We kept only two quarters’ amount pending.”
He targeted the ruling party, alleging that it was promoting more private education institutions by ignoring those working under the state government entities. Lokesh, in turn, blamed the previous government, saying its policies caused nearly 12 lakh students to leave the government schools.
When the Motion of Thanks to the governor’s address was taken up, BJP MLCs praised the state government, citing the efforts of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to develop the state by bringing in huge investments. They cited the setting up of the Google Data Centre and Quantum Valley, while the opposition members continued to disrupt them.
Later, the house witnessed heated arguments. The opposition blamed the ruling party for harassing YSRC leaders Ambati Rambabu and Jogi Ramesh, noting that the police remained mute spectators even as the houses of these leaders were ransacked.
Lokesh reacted strongly to this, saying that the government would not allow anyone to undermine the dignity of women. He expressed serious concern over the “abusive comments” from Ambati Rambabu.
Later, water resources minister Nimmala Ramanaidu spoke on the Governor’s address, but the opposition continued to disrupt the proceedings. The minister listed out the welfare schemes being successfully implemented in the state and said, alongside, several developmental projects were being taken up.
Ramanaidu targeted the previous government on social security pensions. He said it took five years for the Jagan Reddy-led government to raise pension from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. The present government, he said, raised it to Rs 4,000 and even cleared three months’ arrears.
The council adopted the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s address amidst uproarious scenes.
