Chandrababu Naidu denied chance to speak, TDP members stage walkout

Amaravati: The TDP staged walk out from the Assembly on Friday expressing displeasure over the government and Deputy Speaker Kona Raghupathi for not allowing the Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu to speak on the demands for grants.

This is third consecutive day of the opposition walk out. Earlier, the Dy Speaker was reading out all the demands of Finance Statements (Budget papers) for the year 2019-20 in the House for voting, the TDP president requested the Chair for discussion on certain demands.

He further added that without asking the opposition, the House was passing all the demands and requested him to allow to speak on them. At this juncture, Dy Speaker, who was in chair, stated that since he did not get formal request or appeal from the TDP leaders, he was continuing the business of the day.

Reacting to that, Naidu said that he already appealed the Chair for discussion on demands pertaining to home administration and others, but he did not get the chance to speak during passage of finance bills. At this juncture, Dy Speaker said to Naidu, "Let me complete the procedure and put for voting.

I will give you chance later." Then, Naidu took his seat and waited till the end of voting of all the bills. All the 40 finance bills were introduced and were passed. Later, Raghupathi asked Naidu to speak. When the Chair gave mike, Naidu was reading papers to speak on the subject.

Then legislative affairs minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy raised objections by asking the Dy Speaker how could we allow discussion on the just passed bills in the House.

Further, he suggested that the Leader of the Opposition could speak at length on the subject during the discussion on Appropriation bills, to be introduced in the House on Monday for voting. Refusing the proposal, the TDP leaders demanded the Dy Speaker to allow Naidu to speak on the subject now itself.

Intervening in the issue, Raghupathi said that as the TDP members did not ask him in writing before passage of finance bills for discussion, he would not allow them to speak. After saying this, Raghupathi allowed the House to take further business on the bills including AP Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2019, and other bills.

At this juncture, the disappointed TDP leaders walked out saying that Dy Speaker first assured to give chance for Naidu and then refused. Afterwards, the House continued the business for the day.