Jana jolts Kiran

Want to know in which capacity Kiran Kumar Reddy is making the statement. If he is making it as Leader of House, I and other T Ministers cannot be party to his views. He should confine to clauses of the Bill. Article 3 gives no scope for resolution or voting. Parliament can create or merge a State without consulting Assembly- K Jana Reddy

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was stumped on Wednesday soon after he started his speech opposing the Draft AP Reorganisation Bill 2013, when a senior Minister K Jana Reddy interrupted him and wanted to know in which capacity Kiran was delivering the speech.

Jana asked if Kiran was making the statement as the Leader of the Assembly or in his individual capacity. The TRS members also joined him and there was furore in the House. At this, TRS MLAs stormed into the well of the House and demanded that Kiran should first clarify the issue raised by Jana Reddy, and stalled the proceedings.

Finance Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy appealed to the agitating members to resume their seats and cooperate in the smooth conduct of the House, but in vain. He said Kiran was speaking as the Chief Minister only.

At this point, Jana Reddy appealed to the TRS members to resume their seats and said that he was not against Kiran speaking on the Bill, but he should clarify if it was as the Leader of House or in individual capacity. He said if he was speaking as the Leader of House then he and other T Ministers cannot be part to the views being expressed.

Kiran said that he was only trying to make an effort to point out the history as facts needed to be put before the T people. He asked the members to have some restraint.

However, Jana Reddy was not satisfied. Quoting a Supreme Court judgement, he said that under the Article 3, Parliament has the power to merge or create new State without consulting the State Assembly concerned. He also said that the stage for moving a resolution was over. Reddy said just as the merger issue was accepted despite difference of opinion among the members, the demerger should also be accepted. Since Kiran is a constitutional authority and the Leader of House, he should confine himself to the clauses of the bill and no scope should be given for a resolution, either opposing it or putting the bill to vote.

The Speaker, Jana said, can send the opinions and also mention how many expressed views in support of the bill and how many opposed it. Reacting to it, Kiran said that he would speak on Thursday on the Article 3 of the Constitution and development in T region since 1953.

TDP leader R Chandrasekhar Reddy felt that opposing the bill sent by President of India by the Leader of House goes against the Constitution. TRS leader T Harish Rao took objection to Kiran’s opening remarks that it was unfortunate that he had to speak on the Bill. He said CM should withdraw his words or the Speaker should delete the words. MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi wanted to know if the government proposes to move any resolution or put the bill to vote.

Speaker N Manohar said that he would honour all the decisions taken collectively and appealed to the members to contribute to ensure smooth conduct of the Assembly.