Andhra Pradesh   

Heated debate over law and order

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JUNE 29 . The short-notice discussion on the law-and-order situation, which dragged on for over three hours in the Assembly on Tuesday, not only generated heat but also led to levelling of allegations and counter-allegations between members of the TDP and Congress, forcing the Chair to rule that unsubstantiated personal attacks and unparliamentary expressions would be expunged.

Noticing that K. Kala Venkata Rao of the TDP and N. Varadarajulu Reddy of the Congress were reading out news reports projecting their rivals in poor light, the Speaker, K. R. Suresh Reddy, directed that members could refer to the reports but not read them out loud to the House.

The TDP members, E. Dayakar Rao, P. Keshav, N. Janardhan Reddy and K. Subbarayudu, who objected to derogatory references made by Varadarajulu Reddy and Ramalinga Reddy of the TRS about the Opposition leader, N. Chandrababu Naidu, stalled the proceedings by rushing to the podium.

They argued with the Speaker and demanded that members like Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu and D. Narendra, against whom the references were made, be given an opportunity to explain. While Mr. Narendra was allowed to speak, Mr. Patrudu was not, provoking him to repeatedly invite the attention of the Chair.

The heated debate was marked by interruptions and thumping of desks by both Congress and TDP members. Ministers K. Rosaiah and N. Raghuveera Reddy finally interjected, chiding TDP members and challenging their contention. The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, said 192 Congress and 132 TDP members had been killed between 1990 and 1994, and 445 Congress and 418 TDP supporters had been killed between 1995 and now. Many of the accused in the killing of TDP activists in Anantapur had been arrested, he added.

Responding to Mr. Naidu's demand for a Special Court to try cases of factional murders committed after the new Government took office, Mr. Rosaiah said the Government was prepared to do so, provided there was a precedent. Mr. Venkata Rao, who described the six killings in Anantapur district, demanded that a CD depicting the violence be screened in the House. The floor leader of the CPI(M), M. Narasimhaiah, criticised the "police bias" and "political interference" in the cases, and wanted these checked. He also asked for protection for the families of the victims.

C. Venkat Reddy of the CPI suggested that sincere police officers be posted and awareness campaigns conducted in faction areas. Ramalinga Reddy, who caused flutter by alleging that he had received threats from the TDP warning him not to contest the elections, demanded a judicial enquiry into the Anantapur deaths. Narayana Reddy of the Congress called for a special Act to punish the offenders, while G. Kishan Reddy of the BJP wanted an all-party meeting to evolve remedial measures.

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