The Legislative Council meeting was marred by an uproar after YSRCP members alleged that the government had insulted the Council Chairman by not inviting him to two recent events. Moreover, they wondered whether he was being discriminated against just because he is an SC? The YSRCP members demanded that the Chief Minister, who is the leader of the house, answer this issue.
Opposition leader Botsa Satyanarayana raised this issue in the council after the lunch break on Friday. He objected that the council chairman was not invited to the recent women members of parliament conference held in Tirupati, the recent government whips in the legislative assembly premises, and the inauguration of the media point building.
They alleged that the speaker and deputy speaker were invited to these two events and the council chairman was insulted without being invited. Ministers Atchannaidu and Manohar intervened on this and said that they would find out where the mistake had been made, but the YSRCP members protested at the chairman’s podium.
Opposition members shouted slogans demanding that the CM come and answer. Botsa said that the insult inflicted on the chairman was the same as that inflicted on the council members, and that a discussion should be held on this. Chairman Moshen Raju intervened and said, ‘It is not right to discuss when I am here. Let’s invite the panel chairman. Discuss it’ and adjourned the house for a while.
Later, Minister Atchannaidu said, “the council chairman should be invited. But the chief minister has no connection with any program conducted by the house or the council. The speaker is the head of the house and the chairman is the head of the council”.
We will ask the assembly secretary to find out where the mistake occurred. There is a committee for such things. It is not right to talk about irrelevant matters and attribute them to irrelevant people”, he said. The house was adjourned once again.
When the house resumed, opposition leader Botsa raised the same issue. Minister Atchenna said, “If we ask the assembly officials, they say there is a different schedule. They say you (Chairman) said you would not come”. The chairman expressed his anger at this, saying, ‘The officials are misleading you.’
The MLC trio protested why the names of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were mentioned but the chairman was not mentioned. The chairman asked the ministers what the government’s explanation was on this?
“Shall we continue the discussion on this? Will the government respond? Will any committee be formed? If someone takes responsibility and gives an explanation, let’s end the matter with this”, said the chairman. Atchennaidu said that they will discuss it when the members sit. As the chaos continued, the house was adjourned.