File photo of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy
The opposition YSR Congress on Wednesday stalled proceedings in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly over the removal of a portrait of late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy from the premises of the House.
Soon after the House met for the day, the YSRC members, holding photographs of YSR Reddy, stood in the well of the House and raised slogans like 'Johar YSR', whose sixth death anniversary was observed on Wednesday.
YSR died in a chopper crash in 2009.
Speaker K Siva Prasad, who earlier disallowed an adjournment motion moved by the opposition party, asked the party deputy leader Jyotula Nehru as to why they are disrupting the proceedings.
Pointing out that the YSRC gave adjournment motion on drought conditions, the Speaker said the YSRC should come through a proper procedure for their issue to be taken up.
He firmly told them that the photographs being held by them be removed first.
Legislative Affairs Minister Y Ramakrishnudu said the YSRC members can speak on the issue but the photographs they were holding should be removed first.
Jyotula Nehru said the portrait of Rajasekhara Reddy has been removed from the premises of the Assembly "without the knowledge of anybody".
Insisting that the photos they were holding be removed first, the Speaker allowed TDP member K Ravi Kumar to speak.
As the YSRC members moved into the Well again and raised slogans, the Speaker adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
The issue came up again when TDP Chief Whip took objection to some YSRC members pasting the photos of Rajasekhara Reddy in the members' lounge on Wednesday.
Labour Minister K Atchannaidu said photograph of any Chief Minister, including late NT Rama Rao, is not there in the Assembly and wondered how come YSR Reddy's portrait alone be installed.
The Speaker said the photo of late Rajasekhara Reddy, as being pointed out by the YSRC members, was removed when repairs were being undertaken.
Noting that pasting photos in the members' lounge is against the rules, he said the General Purposes Committee of the House and the Assembly can take up issues like installing portraits in the Assembly premises.