Congress stalls Council proceedings over farmers' issue
Hyderabad, Aug 30 (INN): The Congress MLCs stalled the proceedings of Telangana State Legislative Council demanding debate on issues concerning farmers.
As soon as the House met on Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Mohammed Ali Shabbir sought an assurance from Chairman Swamy Goud on continuing the Council session for a debate on farmers' issues. However, the Chairman rejected the demand and insisted on taking up Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2014 for ratification. Meanwhile, Congress members - Poguleti Sudhakar Reddy, Ranga Reddy, Santosh Kumar, Akula Lalitha, Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy and Damodar Reddy rushed to the podium by holding placards in the hand demanding total waiver of crop loans.
Even as Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari started reading out the GST Bill, the Congress members continued the protest. Later, he assured the protesting MLCs that agenda could be finalised in the BAC meeting after passing the GST Bill. The Chairman too tried in vain to convince the Congress MLCs to resume their seats. The proceedings remained stalled for about 15 minutes. However, the Chairman did not allow Shabbir Ali to present his views. Agitated over this, the Congress members staged a walk out from the House.
Speaking to media persons later at Council Media Point, Shabbir Ali said although the Congress was not against the GST Bill, it wanted an assurance on continuance of Council session for at least 15 days. He said lakhs of farmers across the State were living in deplorable conditions due to the negligent attitude of the State Government. He slammed the Deputy CM for describing Congress MLCs protest as 'waste of time'. He said that the TRS Government was deliberately neglecting the farm sector and any discussion on it was being viewed as 'waste of time'. Since there was consensus on GST Bill, it could have been taken up later and the House should have first discussed farmers' issues. He said it was a 'Black Day' as Congress members were denied an opportunity to highlight the problems being faced by farmers.
Shabbir Ali said that the Telangana State was engulfed with several issues including suicide by SI Ramakrishna and Nayeem encounter.
After registering their protest on farmers' issue, the Congress members later entered the House to join the debate on GST Bill and supported it.
News Posted: 30 August, 2016
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