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AP Assembly 28 Feb 2012: Six Legislations Enacted

AP Assembly Session 28 February 2012: In spite of tumultuous conditions in the state assembly right from the beginning of 2012-13 Budget Session, the Kiran Kumar governmrnt succeeded in enacting six legislations on Tuesday night. The government pushed through the six bills including one to curb corruption in development works in general and the MGNREGP works in particular, even as the Opposition parties raised objections to some bills. The Bills that were passed are - The Andhra Pradesh Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Amendment Bill 2011, Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration and Urban Development Bill 2011, Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Amendment Bill 2011, Andhra Pradesh Promotion of Social Audit and Prevention of Corrupt Practices Bill 2011, Andhra Pradesh University of Law (Amendment) Bill 2011 and Andhra Pradesh Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill 2011 were passed in the Assembly through a voice vote. The bill on social audit replaces an ordinance issued last August. Main Opposition TDP staged a walkout in protest against extending the term of an existing Managing Committee of a cooperative credit society from one year to a period not exceeding two years in the Andhra Pradesh Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill. Members cutting across party lines demanded that elections to co-operative societies be held without any further delay. The government, however, remained non-committal on this.

AP Assembly 28 Feb 2012: Live Proceedings - Videos

AP Assembly Session 28 February 2012: At the beginning of sessions on Tuesday, the opposition parties again moved their adjournment motions, which the Speaker disallowed. The Main opposition party TDP once again insisted on taking up debate on liquor syndicates, but the Speaker didn't permit them. The TDP members barged in to the speaker's podium and raised slogans for some time. After some time, the din created by TDP members in the house subsided and the Question Hour began. The House took up discussion on the State Budget 2012-13. Here is the Live recording of the proceedings:                

AP Assembly 28 Feb 2012: JP Blasts Govt For Taxing Rice

AP Assembly Session 28 February 2012: During the Question Hour on Tuesday, Loksatta chief Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan blasted the government for levying tax on Rice. He told the speaker that the government is collecting Rs. 2100 tax on rice, when no other state in the country is levying such tax. "When there isn't any ban on exporting the rice to foreign countries, why the state government has imposed ban on inter-state rice exports in AP," he questioned. The Loksatta chief said that the state government neither has the power to stop inter-state rice exports nor it can bring one such act through legislation, as movement of foodgrains comes under Central Government's purview. The Center has given a clear ruling that foodgrains can be freely exported from one state to another in the country. "Then how can this government stop the farmers from exporting rice to neighbouring states," he asked. Sensing importance of the matter, the Speaker permitted the issue to be discussed elaborately on coming Friday.    

TDP-TRS War of Words

The TDP-TRS war of words is continuing unabated since Monday. TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu started hitting at each other once again. KCR, who was keeping low all these days without responding to TDP criticism, has now unleashed a volley of accusations against Chandrababu Naidu and TDP. In his efforts to portray the former Chief Minister as 'Benami Chakravarthy', KCR talked about Naidu's alleged illegal assets in Nellore district, which included even assigned lands. He demanded the Kiran Kumar Reddy government to inquire into the TDP chief's illegal property transactions. Chandrababu responded to KCR’s criticism, saying that the former was repeating Jagan’s lies. He said he had disposed off his lands in Balayapalli long back, but still KCR wants to talk about them. He said he would stick by his stand that if it were proved that he had any more properties than already declared by him, he would gift them to the whistle-blower. Meanwhile, TDP leader Motkupalli Narsimhulu lambasted KCR as a crony of Congress and Jagan. He alleged that KCR was getting funds for by-election from Gali Janardhan Reddy and Jagan and hence is targeting Chandrababu at their behest. Making sweeping allegations, Motkupalli said that KCR had shipping business in Gujarat and acquired lands in Delhi, using his ill-gotten money through the Telangana agitation. Looks like, the no-holds-barred exchange of abuses will continue till the by-elections in Telangana are over.      

KCR Hitting Three Birds With One Stone

Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) on Monday termed TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu as a 'Benami Chakravarthi', accusing him of acquiring large tracts of land through 'benami' purchases. KCR alleged that around 300 acres owned by Mr. Chandrababu Naidu and his family at Balayapalli in Nellore was found to be assigned land. He also said that he has sufficient documentary proof to prove it and shall expose everything during his by-election campaign in Kovuru constituency in Nellore district. It is to be recalled that, in 2006 Congress senior leader T Jeevan Reddy, during a discussion in assembly alleged that the Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu, former BJP president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, TRS floor leader G. Vijayarama Rao and TDP MP, C. Ramachandraiah, were in illegal possession of land at one point of time or the other. Taking cue from Jeevan Reddy allegations, now KCR wants to highlight them in his 18 March by-election campaigns. KCR has also announced that TRS would field its candiadate for Kovuru constituency in Nellore district and he will be campaigning in the district on 6-7 March. Interestingly, only TRS leader Vijaya Ramarao, out of the 4 leaders Jeevan Reddy had mentioned, has been given a clean chit by the Lokayukta. Though TRS candidate may not win the bypolls in Kovuru, KCR campaign will certainly embarrass the TDP, BJP and Congress parties. Here's the list of Benami lands held by Chandrababu Naidu in Balayapalli mandal of Nellore district:    

AP Assembly 27 Feb 2012: Congress Flays TDP

AP Assembly 27 Feb 2012: At last Telugu Desam Party succeeded in disrupting today's assembly proceedings. Right from the start on Monday, the TDP members insisted on continuing the debate on liquor syndicates. When the speaker Nadendle Manohar didn't allow the motion, the TDP members rushed in to speaker's podium and raised slogans. The speaker tried to convince the protesting members in many ways, he even asked them to raise the issue in some other form, so that it can be taken up for debate later, as the issue had been already debated extensively earlier in the asssembly. But the protestors didn't relent and the speaker had to adjourn the house twice successively. The TDP members continued with their protest even after the session was resumed with Dy. Speaker Bhatti Vikramarka in the chair. After some time, when the members didn't heed to Dy. Speaker's appeals as well, the house was adjourned for tomorrow. Many a senior citizen who watched the live proceedings on TV found fault with TDP for wasting valuable assembly time by insisting to debate a sub-judice matter.      

AP Assembly 27 Feb 2012: Uproar Over Liquor Syndicates

AP Assembly Session 27 Feb 2012: As usual, the Speaker Nadendla Manohar disallowed several adjournment motions moved by the opposition. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) insisted on continuing debate on liquor syndicates in the state. The speaker didn't permit the debate on the grounds that, the issue has been already debated for nine long hours in the house and hence same issue can not be taken up at this juncture. The TDP members surrounded the podium and started raisnig slogans showing placards. The Speaker tried to convince the protesting members, but they didn't heed to him and continued their demand for the debate. Amidst the din, the speaker adjourned the house for half an hour.    

AP Assembly 24 Feb 2012: Debate on Liquor Syndicates - Videos

AP Assembly 24 Feb 2012: Debate on liquor syndicates turned ugly with ruling party and opposition members making personal accusations on each other. The debate ended at 10 PM without any conclusion.                                        

AP Assembly 24 Feb 2012: Gali Was Booked For Playing Cards

AP Assembly 24 Feb 2012: Debate on liquor syndicates is gradually turning ugly with both the ruling party and opposition members making personal accusations on each other. At one point, senior TDP lleader Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu commented about minister Kanna Laxminarayana's son, who was caught recently by customs officials at Shamshabad airport. Retaliating, the minister told the house that his son was merely stopped by the customs people for not paying adequate tax on the purchases he made overseas. He paid the tax and was let to go. The minister said "This honourable member (Muddu Krishnama Naidu), who has been in the noble teaching profession before entering politics, was caught thrice playing cards in a college at Guntur and now he is passing comments on others."            

AP Assembly 24 Feb 2012: Debate on Liquor Syndicates

AP Assembly Session 24 Feb 2012: The debate on liquor syndicates in the state is going on and the House is getting heated up with both the ruling and opposition parties making allegations against each other.                

AP Assembly 24-02-12: Kanna, Chandrababu War of Words

AP Assembly 24-02-12: In the ongoing debate on liquor syndicates in the state, there was a heated arguement between minister Kanna Laxminarayana and the opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu.                      

AP Assembly 24-02-12: Kanna War of Words With Gali

AP Assembly 24-02-12: The debate on liquor syndicates is in progress in the assembly. Minister Kanna Laxminarayana is representing the government and member Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu is speaking on behalf of the main opposition party, the TDP. Senior TDP leader Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu, who is in possession of reportedly a unofficial copy of the ACB remand report, accused the government of failure on all fronts and termed it a corrupt government. He questioned, why the tainted excise minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, whose name figured in the ACB report for taking bribes from sindicates, is still continuing in job. Why the chief minister hasn't dismissed him till now. Why PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana is continuing in office, when he himself has admitted that his family members own 31 liquor shops and their name too figured in the report. Minister Kanna Laxminarayana replied that the matter was still sub-judice and it was for the court to decide whether Mopidevi has done anything wrong. "How can a minister be sacked basing on the statement of a person with criminal background and moreover the issue still is in court," asked the minister.    

AP Assembly 24-02-12: Kanna Statement on Liquor Syndicates

AP Assembly Session 24-02-12: At last the sensational liquor syndicates issue has been taken up for debate on Friday after the tea break. Minister Kanna Laxminarayana spoke on behalf of the chief minister. The minister told the House that the ACB has conducted raids on 34 liquor syndicate offices in the state. The investigation is still going on. The government is contemplating to bring some changes in the state excise policy. The minister said that since the issue is in the court, it is not proper for the house to discuss such matters at this stage. The TDP members obstructed Kanna's speech and demanded that the ACB remand report be presented in the House. They said that they too are in possession of the copies of the report and they have sufficient basis for all that they are speaking in the assembly.    

AP Assembly Session 24-02-12: Live Videos

AP Assembly 24-02-12 proceedings - Live Videos: As scheduled, the session started at 9 AM on Friday, today. The Speaker Nadendla Manohar disallowed the adjournment motions moved by the opposition parties and commenced the Question Hour for the day. Though two-day suspension of 11 TRS members ended yesterday, they registered their protest by abstaining from the assembly.                  

AP Assembly 24-02-12: Debate on Liquor Syndicates

AP Assembly Session 24-02-12: Both the government and main opposition party TDP are getting ready to debate on the sensational liquor syndicates issue today. The Telugu Desam Party is going to target state excise minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana and PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana. These two leaders are being targeted because, while Mopidevi's name figured in the ACB remand report for allegedly taking Rs. 1o lakh bribe from the liquor syndicates, Botsa's family is into the liquor business. On the other hand, the Kiran Kumar government is also well prepared to hit back at the opposition and defend its members as well. Senior minister Kanna Laxminarayana along with leaders Kannababu, Dronamraju Srinivas, Bhikshapathi Goud, Krishna Reddy, Mastan Vali and Anil will participate in the debate on behalf of the government. Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy is also well prepared for onslaught on the opposition. He held a three-hour meeting with excise and ACB officials yesterday and gathered all the details about the issue.    

AP Assembly 23-02-12: Chandrababu Gets Emotional

AP Assembly Session 23-02-12: In a bid to give clarification to the allegations levelled against him by chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy in the House, Chandrababu Naidu got emotional. In his reply to discussion on thanks-giving for Governor's Address, the chief minister had said that Chandrababu Naidu was the root-cause of the Emaar scam. On request, Chandrababu was allotted ten minutes by the speaker to give his clarifications. While he was speaking the ruling party members interrupted him continuously. However, Naidu read out from the high court and supreme court judgements that have dismissed cases against him. Through these judgements, he tried to establish that he has nothing to do with Emaar and IMG Bharata cases.    

AP Assembly 23-02-12: CM-Chandrababu War Of Words

AP Assembly Session 23-02-12: Pandemonium started in assembly on Thursday by the main opposition Telugu Desam Party members, when CM Kiran Kumar Reddy made some oblique remarks against TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu. In his reply to discussion on thanks-giving to Governor's Address, the chief minister said that Chandrababu Naidu was the root-cause for the Emaar scam. This flared up the TDP members, who rushed into the speaker's podium and started raising slogans against the CM. There was pandemonium in the house for quite sometime and the speaker tried to passify the protesting TDP members. They insisted upon the speaker to allow their leader to speak. In spite of relentless appeals by he speaker, TD members didn't relent and CM had to end his speech abruptly. At this juncture, assembly affairs minister Sridhar Babu also appealed to the TD members to calm down and let the CM finish his speech. He assured them that the speaker would allow their leader to speak after CM completes his speech. But the protestors didn't heed to him and continued with their protest.                                  

AP Assembly 23-02-12: Akbaruddin Owaisi Speech

AP Assembly Session 23-02-12: In the ongoing budget session on Thursday, MIM party leader Akbaruddin Owaisi spoke on the current situation in the state.                      

AP Assembly 23-02-12: Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu Speech

AP Assembly Session 23-02-12: In the ongoing budget session on Thursday, Telugu Desam Party senior leader Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu spoke on length about the failures of the government. He expressed anguish over the poor state of affairs in the State and held Kiran Kumar government responsible for it. He reminded the Speaker about the assurance that discussion on liquor mafia would be taken up in the house. He questioned when that discussion will take place.