HYDERABAD: The non-TDP Opposition has blamed the ruling Congress and the Telugu Desam Party for preventing debates on important public issues by making the Assembly a platform to trade allegations.

The parties expressed disappointment over the "painful" end to the winter session which commenced on a positive note with the golden jubilee year celebrations of the Assembly.

On the other hand, the Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, maintained that the Opposition had succeeded in raising important public issues notwithstanding the repeated attempts by the treasury benches to thwart any bid to embarrass the Government.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Naidu said any attempt to raise important issues saw the ruling party members launching a counter-attack on the Opposition, particularly the TDP.

`Intimidatory tactics'

It resorted to `intimidatory tactics' like raising personal issues to corner the TDP in order to prevent it from raising issues like the alleged irregularities in the Kalwakurthy irrigation project and misuse of official machinery for the AICC plenary.

CPI floor leader Chada Venkat Reddy accused the ruling party of trying to bulldoze the voice of the parties with smaller representation by not allowing discussions on major issues. CPI(M) floor leader N. Narsimhaiah said the way the "anti-people" bills were passed in the House reflected the Congress' its "dictatorial tendencies."

TRS charge

TRS floor leader G. Vijayarama Rao said that the Government had deliberately blocked the discussion on the issues pertaining to Telangana region like the violation of the six-point formula and Presidential orders. BJP member G. Kishan Reddy charged Ministers with not doing enough homework for replying to the issues raised by opposition members.

He objected to the manner in which Telangana Rashtra Samiti members tried to drag the name of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M. Venkaiah Naidu into the controversy surrounding the evasion of taxes by some of his relatives.

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