Seemandhra MPs not allowed to speak at lawyers’ ‘Maha Dharna’

Ashok Babu too face ire from advocates of the region

Hyderabad: The Seemandhra MPs who took part in the ‘Maha Dharna’ of Seemandhra Advocates JAC at Indira Park had an embarrassing experience on Wednesday. The MPs who came to the Maha Dharna for expressing solidarity were questioned by the advocates to declare their loyalties. Almost all the MPs had to face vehement sloganeering by advocates. TDP MP K Narayana had a tough time, when the advocates asked him to clear his party stand.

They also questioned as to why TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu was not vocal in favour of unified State. They asked him to end the political rhetoric. While the Congress MP, Vundavalli Arun Kumar was asked to leave the party, if he was serious about the issue.

Even APNGOs president P Ashok Babu was not spared. When he tried to speak, the agitating lawyers cried out that he had sold the movement. Some of them lamented that, if he was persistent in his efforts, the Centre would not have dared to take this process forward. This prompted some argument between APNGOs leaders and advocates. The advocates held that the movement was a prerogative of politicians, but not the employees. However they opined that as the politicians failed to take up the issue, people from all hues picked up the movement. Responding to this, MPs from all three political parties -- Congress, TDP and YSRCP -- vowed to stall the Bill in the next parliamentary session.

MPs who spoke on the occasion included Lagadapati Rajagopal (Congress), K Ramakrishna (YSRCP), Sujana Chowdary (TDP). Also present were representatives from various social groups and student organisations.