Date:13/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/13/stories/2004121305500400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

It's politically-motivated: TDP

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 12. Five Telugu Desam MLAs on Sunday accused the Congress of resorting to `blackmail politics' by giving notice of a privilege against the Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, to the Speaker.

Addressing a press conference, the MLAs -- P. Keshav, K. Atchan Naidu, D. Narendra, G. Sayanna and N. Amarnath Reddy -- said the privilege notice was aimed at diverting people's attention from corruption issues raised by the TDP in the Assembly.

Referring to the Chief Whip, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy's statement that Mr. Naidu had made objectionable remarks against the Speaker at the Business Advisory Committee, they wondered how publicity was given to the meeting that was held in-camera. They accused the Chief Whip and other ruling party leaders of trying to derive political mileage on the issue.

Appeal to Speaker

The TDP legislators alleged that distorted versions of the proceedings at the meeting were given to newspapers. They contended that the statement of Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy and others amounted to violation of privileges of the House and urged the Speaker to refer the issue suo motu to the privileges committee. Maintaining that Mr. Naidu had not shown disrespect to the Speaker, they appealed to Congress legislators not to drag his office into a controversy.

The MLAs said Mr. Naidu's plea to the Speaker that he "should listen" was only an expression of his anguish in drawing the Chair's attention in the House. In contrast, they said, when Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was Leader of the Opposition, Congress legislators had broken mikes, tore copies of the Governor's address and showed disrespect to the Chair.