Barring Leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy, the YSRC members present in the House were suspended for the day late in the afternoon. (File photo)
On a day marred by acrimonious exchange of words between ruling Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress, 37 legislators belonging to the Opposition party were today suspended from the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for a day as they tried to stall proceedings of the House over the land deals in the state capital region Amaravati.
Barring Leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy, the YSRC members present in the House were suspended for the day late in the afternoon when they raised slogans demanding a CBI inquiry into the land deals.
The ruling party, however, succeeded in pinning Mr Reddy down to the mat on the land deals issue, taking strong exception in particular to the allegations he made against Ministers P Pulla Rao and P Narayana.
Led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the TDP as well as the BJP members demanded that Mr Reddy prove the allegations right on the floor of the House or tender an unconditional apology.
"If you prove the allegations, I will dismiss the two ministers forthwith. Otherwise, you have to face action of the House," the chief minister announced.
Mr Reddy then sought to divert the issue and wanted the government to order a CBI inquiry.
The chief minister stoutly refused to oblige saying "there is no need for any inquiry. I will not order any probe. Let me see what you can do."
Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao took Mr Reddy to task for making "wild allegations" in the House against certain members.
"You are making wild allegations against everybody, even against me. These are extraordinary and grave allegations. This is an irresponsible way of talking in the House. The Leader of the House asked you to prove the allegations and promised to take action if they are found true. Otherwise you have to apologise," the Speaker clearly told the opposition leader.
Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu lashed out at Mr Reddy for making allegations against ministers without following rules and traditions.
"This is a very serious issue and related to the prestige of the House. If you can't prove the allegations, the House has a right to punish you," Mr Yanamala said.
Finding himself cornered, Mr Reddy did not seek to substantiate his allegations but simply raised the demand for a CBI investigation.
After the discussion was wound up, the YSRC legislators started raising slogans demanding a CBI probe.
The Legislative Affairs Minister then moved a motion for their suspension from the House for the day.
Earlier in the day, YSR Congress staged a walkout from the Assembly protesting the TDP government's "failure" to implement the loan waiver scheme for farmers.
"The government has deceived the farmers in the name of complete loan waiver. This has resulted in suicides by hapless farmers in the state," Mr Reddy had alleged, as he led his party legislators in the walkout.
In the process, Speaker Sivaprasada Rao chided Mr Reddy for trying to "hijack" the House.
"In the name of protest, you cannot hijack the House. If you want, you can protest and stage a walkout. Or, sit and follow the House (rules). You cannot continue to lecture," the Speaker told the Opposition leader as the latter continued to make certain remarks.
The loan waiver issue came up for discussion during Question Hour in the Assembly.