Opposition legislators belonging to YSR Congress Party were suspended from Andhra Pradesh assembly for one day on Wednesday for stalling the proceedings over the land scam in upcoming state capital.
Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad Rao suspended all members of the only opposition party except its leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy after Legislative Affairs Minister Y. Ramakrishnudu moved the resolution.
Demanding probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the opposition legislators trooped towards the speaker's podium and raised slogans in support of the demand.
As the YSRCP members continued slogan shouting, despite repeated appeals by the government and the speaker, the minister moved the resolution suspending all 37 opposition legislators present in the house. The resolution was passed with a voice vote.
During debate on motion of thanks to the governor's address, Jaganmohan Reddy alleged that the ministers were involved in the land scam. He claimed that the ministers and leaders of ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) purchased lands in the capital area after Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu leaked the secret information about the location of the capital Amaravati.
Jagan, as the leader is popularly known, said Naidu misled the people by first stating that the capital will come up near Nuzvidu, later announced that it will be built near Nagarjuna University but finally choose a third location after ministers purchased lands in the name of others for real estate business.
The TDP government denied the allegation. Agriculture Minister P. Pulla Rao challenged the YSRCP leader to prove that even one acre was purchased by him or any other minister.
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Jagan's speech was marred by repeated disruptions and the exchange of words between the treasury and opposition benches.
Defending the ministers, Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the opposition party is trying to create hurdles in development of the state and building up of new capital.
He said if the allegations against ministers Pulla Rao and P. Narayana were proved, he would immediately sack them. "But if the allegations proved false, this house should decide what punishment should be given to Jaganmohan Reddy," he asked.
The chief minister said farmers and other land owners voluntarily came forward to give 34,000 acre land for the capital and part of this developed land will be given back to them under land pooling.
Naidu alleged that Jagan is using his 'Sakshi' newspaper and television channel to make baseless allegations against the ministers under a conspiracy to defame the government.