YSRCP creates ruckus in AP Assembly

Opposition members rush to the well demanding regularisation of contract employees, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for some time

Hyderabad: Members of the main Opposition in Andhra Pradesh YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Saturday stalled the proceedings of the Assembly, demanding regularisation of contract employees as promised in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) election manifesto.

Soon after the House assembled for the day, Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao announced rejection of the adjournment motion notice of YSRCP members on the subject and advised them to raise the issue in another form. However, the Opposition members rushed to the well of the House and raised slogans insisting on discussion on the issue.

The government made it clear that it was not prepared to make any statement on the subject as demanded by the Opposition. Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Rama Krishnudu and Labour Minister K Atchannaidu said the Opposition was not sincere, but was trying to gain political mileage out of the issue. Yanamala, however, said the government was prepared to discuss any issue if the Opposition came in a proper form and advised the opposition to follow the norms.

Opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said more than 14,000 contract employees were agitating and eagerly waiting for the government response to their demands. He said the TDP had promised to regularise all the contract employees if it was voted to power. The Speaker, however, appealed to the agitating members to come in a different form as the government was ready to answer. The Opposition refused to budge from their stand, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for a brief period.