Tempers rise over the debate on right and wrong

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, AUG. 29. The wordy combat in Tuesday's Assembly proceedings was not just rhetorical but also hysterical with most of the arguments lost in the din in the first half hour.

The argument of the CLP leader that the Congress(I) resorted to an indefinite fast fired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi provoked a sneer from the ruling party members who questioned the methods adopted by the Opposition in its agitation against the power tariff hike.

Dr.Reddy defended the Congress' stand stating his party was at least walking in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi though no one could compare himself with the Father of the Nation. The Minister for Youth Affairs termed him as the `Rayalaseema Gandhi' in a sarcastic manner.

The reference of the Chief Minister, Mr.N.Chandrababu Naidu, to the Opposition's links with extremists because of the presence of Gaddar at the Opposition camp sometime back led to the latter recalling the statement of NTR that "naxalites are real patriots". He also asked whether the mere presence of Gaddar could tantamount to their having links with extremists and if so, how would the ruling party justify the visit of the former Home Minister, Madhava Reddy, to the hospital when Gaddar was recuperating after being shot.

"It was just on humanitarian grounds", the ruling party members contested. The Chief Minister asserted that Monday's rally consisted militants of CPI(ML) groups that were maintaining underground dalams, hence the conviction of the Government about the Opposition links with them.

"If that be so, could Gummadi Narasaiah, the CPI-ML (New Democracy) MLA be called a democratically elected member of the House", the Congress-I leader wanted to know. If he was not, then must he be allowed in the House, he wondered.

The Finance Minister, Mr.Y.Ramakrushnudu, raised the issue of members' conduct in the House and sought action against Mr.K.Suryapratap Reddy of the Congress(I) for violating norms of decency. He broke the House's property, hence the cost must be collected from him and if necessary, he should be suspended, he said.

When the agitation's methods became a bone of contention, the Opposition sought to know whether NTR taking the body of the slain legislator, Siva Reddy, to the Governor's residence was proper. The then Congress(I) Government was democratic enough to allow the protest, Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy pointed out.

"Yes, but it did not provide security to the same member when he pleaded for it in the House", Mr.K.Vidyadhar Rao of the TDP cut in to be disputed once again by the Opposition. Well, what is good for goose may not be so for gander, the adage goes!

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Section  : Southern States
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