Bedlam in Assembly as Jagan calls TDP MLAs buffoons

• Jagan sought to raise political murders as 14 of YSRCP workers were killed
• Political murders started by Cong in the past, allege TDP members
• Jagan loses cool and makes the disparaging remark
• Speaker reprimands Jagan for the remark, asks him to withdraw it
• Jagan refuses, utter chaos prevails & Speaker adjourns House for the day

Hyderabad: A short discussion on political murders in Andhra Pradesh on Friday plunged the state Assembly into utter chaos and led to unruly scenes when leader of opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy called the ruling party MLAs as ‘Buffoons’.

The YSRCP, which initiated the discussion, sought to blame the government for encouraging "political murders" and said that during last three months at least 14 of its workers were "killed".

The discussion saw verbal exchanges between the ruling and the opposition members. As the YSRCP dug into the past, referring in particular to the murder of Vangaveeti Mohan Ranga that happened decades ago in Vijayawada, the TDP hit back with equal vigour making Jagan the main target and held him responsible for the murder of TDP leader Paritala Ravindra during the Congress regime headed by Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. They also alleged that Jagan with the help of mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy had looted the state.

Reacting to the TDP's attack, Jagan sought to claim innocence and in the process made the disparaging remark, drawing the ire of Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao. The Speaker said, "You can't use unparliamentary words. It is unbecoming of the opposition leader. It was a sweeping remark that I never heard in the past in the House. It is not only unparliamentary but also totally irresponsible."

The Speaker told Jagan, "I sincerely, seriously and as a well-wisher...I am telling you it’s not just an insult to individual members but also the entire House." He said as opposition leader Jagan should observe restraint and speak responsibly even as the latter sought to defend him. As the TDP members rushed to the well of the House raising strong objection to Jagan’s remark, the Speaker ruled that the remark would not go on record.

TDP member D Narendra urged the Speaker not to take up any other item on the agenda till Jaganmohan Reddy tenders an apology for insulting the member. The speaker advised Jagan to withdraw his remarks.

Jagan, however, wanted to know why no action was taken against the members who called him a murderer and described his party colleagues as smugglers.

Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy, Chief Whip Kalva Srinivasulu, senior MLAs Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar, P Srinivasa Reddy and other TDP legislators came down heavily on Jagan for using such derogatory language in the House and demanded an apology first. He has not only insulted individual members and the House but also the crores of people who elected the members. It is totally unbecoming on the part of the Opposition leader to have used such intemperate language, the TDP members said. The House was adjourned abruptly for the day as the furore continued and the offended ruling party members vowed to stall the House till the Opposition leader tendered an apology.