YSR Congress calls for Andhra Pradesh bandh on September 10

In an unexpected  fall out of the union finance minister ‘s  midnight announcement of a special package for Andhra Pradesh that includes tax concessions and funding, the YSR Congress  called for a state wide bandh on  September 10  for denying the special category status to Andhra Pradesh. 

 

All opposition parties have extended their support to the call. This will be the second bandh on demand in the past two months.

 

The issue has rocked the first day of the three-day Assembly session that began today. 

 

Calling for the resignation of CM Chandrababu Naidu for welcoming union finance minister Arun Jaitley statement even before it is released, the YSR Congress trouped into the well raising slogans and tried to stall the proceedings.

 

The opposition demanded that the issue be taken up immediately, suspending other business of the day.

 

Speaker Kodeal Sivaprasadarao in a bid to pacify the opposition party assured them that the issue could be raised later.

 

“The government is expected to make a statement on the special package.  A debate is not possible before the government makes the statement,” the speaker clarified disallowing the adjournment motion given by YSR Congress.

 

Raising the issue, opposition leader Jaganmohan Reddy objected to the chief minister’s statement welcoming the package, which he said was nothing but permanent burial for special category status.

 

“This house had debated the special status issue many times. The house unanimously felt that the special status was the need of the hour. This house had adopted resolution not once, twice or three times, demanding the centre that special state be accorded to Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister knew all these developments. But, last night, immediately after Jaitley’s announcement, Naidu in a press conference, welcomed the announcement. It is not acceptable. So, the opposition motion should be taken up immediately,” Jagan said.

 

Jagan could not continue his speech as the mike was disconnected by the Speaker. This abrupt disconnection enraged the opposition members who raised slogans against the Speaker and demanded Jagan be allowed to speak.

 

The Speaker then asked sports minister Atchannaidu and TDP MLA Bonda Umamaheswar Rao to speak who proceeded to verbally attack Jagan.

 

They held that Jagan was not qualified to speak on the subject.

 

YSRC members, however, intensified their slogans demanding the Speaker allow Jagan to finish his remarks. The Speaker was firm in disallowing Jagan by stating the Opposition leader could raise the issue after the government’s statement. This resulted in the stalemate in the House the assembly was adjourned for ten minutes.

 

Earlier, outside the Assembly, Jagan had alleged that Naidu had welcomed the package statement by Jaitlely only to spare himself from the numerous cases that are pending against him. He said the party had called for a state-bandh on September 10 as an act of protest against Naidu’s collusion with the Centre

 

“I urge the people to make the September 10 bandh a resounding success. Before taking the decision I consulted with other political parties,” he said.

 

YSRC members entered the house dressed in black to demonstrate   their opposition to centre’s package.

 

"Naidu should resign from the government for failing to protect the interests of the people. Unless we register our protest strongly, we can't get the special status accorded, which is the only solution to the state's unemployment," he said.