AP assembly adjourned amid protests over Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest

Amaravati: Amid continued protests by the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) demanding the release of its jailed leader N Chandrababu Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned on Friday.

The assembly proceedings were disrupted for the second day in a row over the arrest of the Leader of the Opposition in connection with the multi-crore AP Skill Development Corporation scam.

As soon as the question hour commenced to discuss the estimates of Relief and Rehabilitation to Mulapeta Port, the TDP MLAs rushed to Speaker Tammineni Sitaram’s podium and surrounded him.

The MLAs raised slogans demanding the withdrawal of cases registered against the former Chief Minister and sought discussion on the matter.

In response, Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath said many protesting TDP MLAs are experienced, and are not maintaining decorum.

The minister noted that in a democracy there are established procedures to protest and warned the TDP leaders that the ruling party legislators can also respond in a similar manner.

Amid the din, the Speaker adjourned the sessions for nearly 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu pointed out that the opposition party MLAs were only trying to disrupt the proceedings of the House though the treasury members were ready to deliberate on any subject.

When the House reassembled after adjournment, TDP legislators continued their protests while Narasapuram MLA and YSRCP chief whip M. Prasada Raju flagged that a couple of opposition party legislators were recording videos in the House.

On the first day of the AP Assembly Monsoon Session on Thursday, the speaker suspended three MLAs for the entire Session and 14 more for a day.

With inputs from PTI

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