Date:05/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/05/stories/2007040505530600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Seven TDP members suspended from Council

Special Correspondent

Resolution on OBC quota adopted after their suspension

HYDERABAD: Seven Telugu Desam members were suspended from the Council for a day on Wednesday for obstructing proceedings on the issue of reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in higher educational institutions.

They were insisting on adoption of a unanimous resolution asking the Centre to take all steps for vacating the Supreme Court's stay on implementation of the OBC quota.

Their protest turned out to be unnecessary as the Council adopted a resolution after their suspension urging the Centre to initiate necessary measures for implementing 27 per cent OBC quota. It also adopted another resolution seeking five per cent reservations for Muslims in the State.

The TDP members' suspension came barely 24 hours after members of all parties vowed to facilitate meaningful debates in the Upper House and set new standards for the conduct of proceedings. Those suspended were Palle Raghunatha Reddy, Y. Babu Rajendra Prasad, B. Narayana Rao, P. Yadagiri, Siddha Raghava Rao, Ch. Varaprasad and M. Venkatasiva Reddy.

Council Chairman A. Chakrapani suspended them when they ignored his repeated pleas not to obstruct the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint session.

Heated exchanges

Pandemonium prevailed in the House for almost an hour as the TDP and Congress members traded charges against each other. Heated exchanges ensued when a Congress member P. Sudhakar Reddy said the TDP had no right to speak in the House as the party was in favour of its abolition.

As soon as the proceedings began, the TDP members demanded that the House set aside other business and pass a unanimous resolution in support of the OBC quota.