It’s unfortunate: KCR

Hyderabad: Terming the boycott of the House by the Opposition as an unfortunate event, the Chief Minister K Chandarashekar Rao on Thursday said the government was strictly following the decisions that were taken in the Business Advisory Committee meeting where all the opposition leaders were present.

The Chief Minister asserted that the government was ready to discuss any issue. He said even the decision not to stage protests in front of the Speaker’s podium was taken to ensure that the Telangana State Assembly set an example. He further said the decision to extend the session further till January first week was taken in view of the demand by the Opposition parties for more time to discuss issues.

He said the political parties appeared to be feeling jealous of TRS coming to power here and BJP at Centre because for the first time people had given full mandate to the non-Congress party. While the Opposition trying to corner the government, it should also play its role to ensure progress of the State, he said.

Legislative Affairs Minister T Harish Rao said the ruling party members were of the view that the Speaker was more liberal towards the Opposition parties in giving them time and opportunity to speak. Rao said the Congress members had spoken for about 59 minutes during a discussion on double bedroom housing scheme while the ruling TRS members were given only 22 minutes by the Speaker.

Similarly, during a discussion on agriculture, the Opposition members were given 90 minutes time and the ruling party got only 42 minutes, he said. He demanded that the Congress party, which opposed the State’s Land Acquisition Act, should clarify whether it was in favour of irrigation projects or against them.