Allegations, counter-allegations rock AP Assembly

HYDERABAD: Ruling and opposition parties tried to best one another using the debate on motion of thanks to the governor's speech as a platform, the penultimate day of the first session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

The first salvos were fired by TDP MLA Dhulipala Narendra while moving the motion. In a speech that lasted more than 90 minutes, he extolled his leader and promises made by him in the party manifesto. At the same time he tried to project the previous regime as the most corrupt and anti-development.

He spoke on how the previous regime had encouraged misuse of land allocation in the name of Special Economic Zones. 'In all 110 SEZs were allocated several thousands of acres at throwaway prices. No one knows as to how many industries were actually set up, how many were provided employment. Some had used those lands to pledge to get bank loans, while some used them for real estate purposes,'' he alleged.

When Narendra mentioned Brahmani Steels and was referring to the then chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy's name often, YSRC leaders started making objections.

Leader of the opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy stood up and, interupting Narendra's speech, said that his party's legislator G Srikanth Reddy challenged to TDP legislator Narender, if the latter proves his allegations that Rs 300 crore loans were taken by Brahmini Steels pledging the lands given to it, he would resign. 'If proved wrong, would TDP legislator resign?' he asked.

He alleged that the passports of Chandrababu Naidu and his party MLA K Srinivas should be checked for their Singapore trips used for meeting 'Janardhan Reddy'. 'Why is the name of a person, who is no longer there and who can not defend himself, being mentioned time and again?'' he sought to know.

Objecting to his remarks, TDP legislator K Srinivas claimed that he never went to Singapore. 'How can a person who is Accused number 1 in 10 CBI cases make such claims? He should refrain from making personal allegations. It is time for him to live in reality and should detest from using the name of the late YSR for political survival. Do not try to divert the attention of the House,'' he said.

When Narendra tried to continue his speech, Jagan again intervened and objected to continuing remarks against YSR. He said that it would be better if the speeches referred only to governor's speech. At that point of time, speaker Kodela Siva Prasad Rao observed that the ruling party legislator was only emphasising the corruption mentioned in the governor's speech.

Narendra continued his speech for some time and yet again was interrupted by Jaganmohan Reddy who, citing rule position, urged the speaker not to allow derogatory remarks or reference to the persons who are no more. ''I am merely pointing out the Rules of the House. Whether they are followed or not, I leave it to your wisdom,'' he said.

In his maiden speech as leader of opposition, which lasted nearly two hours, YS Jaganmohan Reddy citing several statistics from the reports of CAG, Central Statistical Organisation of India, CESS and Social Economic Survey of Andhra Pradesh, tried to corner the ruling party over its promises and remarks in the governor's speech.

Starting his speech congratulating TDP on coming to power and with a claim that he wanted to play the role of a constructive opposition, he quoted Nehru's 'Tryst with Destiny' speech on the eve of Independence, which he said was inspiration to his father. ''My father wanted to see that every poor benefits and started programmes on a saturation mode. He increased pensions from 17 lakh to 71 lakh, ration cards from 1.20 lakh to 2.35 lakh. I hope the present government would continue the legacy of good work,'' he said.

He said economic health of a state is gauged by many parameters like GDP, revenue surplus or deficit, human resource index etc. ''GDP was 5.38 percent during 1984-94 and was 5.72 percent in 1994-2004 and was 8.23 percent in 2004-2014, while per capital income was 25,326 in 2004, when Chnadrababu demitted the office as CM and it was Rs 89,214 in 2013-14.

Interrupting him, finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu demanded to know whether YSRC, which claims to be in opposition in previous regime, was supporting Kiran Reddy government by praising it.

Continuing his speech, Jagan said he was only explaining the facts as 'last decade' was mentioned in the governor's speech. He went on to explain about GSDP differential in the last decade, how revenue surplus was rendered as revenue deficit during TDP's regime and how the lost ground was recovered in the decade following it. He spoke of variations in assets and liabilities ratio in last two decades quoting Planning Commission.

When he made reference to Human Development Index stating that AP stood 9th in 1981 and 1991 but fell to 10th in 2001, the finance minister pointed out that it fell to 15th position in 2011 and asked who was responsible.

Jagan referring to inspiration from Japan in the Governor speech said that leadership should make a positive impression and uplift the moral of the people, who are looking lost. ''Leadership should point out positive points and strengths of the state, instead of wallowing in the valley of despair,'' he said. His remarks on revenue deficit made chief minister Chandrababu Naidu intervene and object.

Continuing, Jagan wondered how the government proposed to keep the promises made, as the waiver of the loan itself required Rs 1.03 lakh crore. ''I too had thought of it but was advised against it by my economic advisors who said I should not be party to cheating farmers. Babu might excuse later that RBI and central government had not agreed to the sops promised,'' he said.

He also found fault with the CM for not signing the file waiving loans and issuing pensions with immediate effect as promised. Even as Jagan was making a point on the need for 30,000 acres of land for building a new capital accessible to all, his mike was disconnected and the speaker abruptly adjourned the House till 9 am on Tuesday.