Date:20/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/20/stories/2006082012340400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Opposition stifled, says Telugu Desam

Special Correspondent

`Congress afraid of facing the House'

`Land irregularities, GO 5, GO 72 have embarrassed Government'
Adjournment of House of Friday alleged as a ploy to avoid questions

TDP takes offence to Congress' behaviour

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party has charged Treasury Benches with stifling the voice of the Opposition parties in the Assembly by preventing them from raising important issues.

TDP general secretary Kadiam Srihari, party MLA Ch. Rajeswara Rao and former MP Umareddy Venkateswarlu said at a press conference here on Saturday that the ruling party was afraid of facing the House in the wake of several controversial decisions it had taken recently.

Mr. Srihari said the irregularities in alienation of Government lands at throwaway prices and the auction of land in Kokapet, the confusion caused by GO 5 and GO 72 have embarrassed the Government. To avoid discussion on all such issues, the ruling party members had decided to prevent the Opposition from raising its voice.

He said adjournment of the House on Friday by the Speaker without Chief Minister's reply was one such ploy. He questioned the Government on going back on its promise of holding 100 sittings in a year. Mr. Srihari asked the Government to take up issues of public interest for the rest of the sessions.

Mr. Rajeshwar Rao said the ruling party's behaviour was an insult to parliamentary democracy. The Congress party seemed to conduct itself on the adage that offence was the best form of defence to wriggle out of embarrassing situations. Mr. Venkateswarlu found fault with the Congress for launching an offensive, passing sarcastic remarks and provoking the Opposition to ensure that contentious issues do not keep cropping up.