Jagan Alleges Bid to Silence Opposition in Legislature

Vijayawada: Former chief minister and YSRC president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday accused the ruling coalition of attempting to silence the Opposition in the Legislature by denying his party recognition and adequate speaking time.

Chairing a meeting of YSRC MLAs and MLCs at the party’s central office in Tadepalli, Jagan Mohan Reddy issued directions on how members should conduct themselves during the ongoing Assembly and Legislative Council sessions. He alleged that despite being the sole Opposition party in the House, the YSRC was not being given sufficient opportunity to raise public issues, forcing it to take its concerns to the media.

Stating that the party has significant strength in the Legislative Council, he urged members to make effective use of the platform. He asked them to study issues in depth, come well prepared and speak with facts and evidence. “Only strong preparation will make the government answerable,” he said, calling on members to highlight public hardships and question the government’s failures without fear.

Referring to the Tirupati laddu controversy, Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that cases and attacks against several leaders were the result of questioning the government. He claimed that the movement of rejected ghee tankers back into circulation had occurred after the change of government and demanded an explanation from those in power. He added that standard testing procedures existed at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and recalled that tankers had been rejected during earlier periods as well.