Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council passes amendments

Amaravati: For the first time, the members of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council late on Tuesday night proposed amendments to the speech of Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan and they were passed.

Generally, the Opposition members either in the Assembly or the Council propose amendments to the Governor's speech or the Bills and even to the Budget proposals which would be widely ignored.

The government on Tuesday took up discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor's speech in both the Houses.The Assembly after completion of discussion, passed the Motion of Thanks. Later, the General Budget and the Agriculture Budget were introduced in the Lower House.

However, the TDP MLCs in the Council insisted on deleting some paragraphs in the Governor's speech. The TDP MLCs pointed out that the speech did not mention the law and order situation in the State and the highhanded behaviour of the ruling party leaders. They also put forward a resolution expressing dissatisfaction over some other points.

The amendments made by the Opposition members were passed with a voice vote in the Council. Legislative experts say that it was for the first time that amendments to the Governor's speech were passed in any Legislative Council in the country.

The following paragraphs were deleted from the Guv's speech in Council:

1. The paragraph that mentioned the GDP and per capita income since they were not realistic.

2. The last paragraph that failed to mention welfare of the weaker sections, capital Amaravati, Polavaram and other irrigation projects.

3. The reference to the ordinances which were issued against the Constitutional provisions, the directions of the High Court and the Supreme Court. 4. The paragraph which mentioned power purchase agreements and implementation of Navaratnas.