Noisy scenes in AP House over farmers plight;adjourned for day

Officiating Speaker Nadendla Manohar adjourned the proceedings twice amidst noisy scenes but there was no order in the House after it reassembled.

Besides Manohar, Finance Minister Aanam Ramanarayana Reddy repeatedly appealed to the TDP MLAs to let the House take up the Question Hour.

As the protesting TDP MLAs remained adamant and stood in the Well, the officiating Speaker adjourned the House till tomorrow.

As soon as the House assembled this morning, the TDP members stormed the Speaker's podium holding placards and raising slogans denouncing the "anti-farmer" attitude of the Congress government.

They demanded that the government enhance input subsidy to Rs 10,000 per acre to farmers whose crops were damaged in untimely heavy rains last year.

They also wanted the government agencies to immediately procure all the damaged paddy available with farmers and also pay a bonus of Rs 200 above the minimum support price.

The officiating Speaker appealed to the TDP members to let the House take up the Question Hour. As the TDP MLAs continued with their protest, he adjourned the proceedings first for 30 minutes.

The din, however, continued even after the House reassembled as the TDP members remained in the Well.

The Finance Minister also appealed to the agitated members to allow the Question Hour as several important issues of public concern were listed for discussion. He said the government was ready for a debate on any subject raised by the opposition parties if the Speaker permitted.

The officiating Speaker too reiterated his appeal to the TDP MLAs but, as they remained unrelenting, following which he adjourned the House second time for 15 minutes.

The TDP members did not give up even then, forcing an abrupt end to the day's proceedings.