HYDERABAD, March 30: Pandemonium broke out in the State Legislative Assembly today with the Opposition stalling proceedings for over two hours insisting on a discussion on the cause for Industries Minister Basheeruddin Babu Khan's resignation from the Cabinet.Congress members staged a dharna in the Well of the House for over an hour. And as a result question hour and zero hour could not be taken up.
Besides expressing apprehensions that Babu Khan had been kidnapped, the members wanted to know whether his resignation had been accepted.
The bedlam continued for over two hours till Babu Khan came to the House at 11 am and made a lengthy statement on the circumstances leading to his resignation. He, however, made it clear that he was not quitting the TDP and hoped that the party leadership would change its stand.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), Communist Party of India (CPI), MIM and NTR-TDP members too joined the Congress members and wanted to know the state of affairs vis-a-vis theMinister's resignation. The situation was so surcharged that even Naidu's efforts to pacify the members proved futile.
The debate soon shifted from the Minister's resignation to the TDP's stand towards the BJP-led coalition at the Centre. When the Opposition contended that the two issues were inter-linked, Naidu came forward for a two-hour discussion on the issue.
Earlier, Speaker Y Ramakrishnudu disallowed a notice for an adjournment motion given by the Congress, the CPI, the CPM, and MBT members on the resignation issue, on the ground that unless a Minister comes forward to make a statement on his resignation, the House cannot discuss the matter.
But the Opposition insisted on a statement on the issue from the Chief Minister, who was not present in the House. Though the Speaker tried to take up the question hour, it was not possible, as the House reverberated with shouts and noisy exchanges. Around 15 Congress members entered the Well of the House and stood in front of the Opposition benches.Amanullah Khan walked up to the podium and stayed there demanding that Babu Khan "be produced" in the House.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
