Hyderabad, Mar 22: Opposition members in Andhra Pradesh Assembly were today suspended for the day for disrupting the house proceedings during zero hour demanding ex-gratia to the kin of farmers who committted suicide. Thirty-one Congress members, including Leader of Opposition Dr Y S Rajsekhar Reddy and two CPM members present in the house were suspended by Speaker Pratibha Bharthi for disrupting house proceedings. The Speaker ordered the marshalls to remove the members when they refused to leave the house and S Rajiah (CPM) was bodily lifted out while he was staging a dharna at the podium.

Meanwhile, TDP, BJP and Majlis members have condemned the alleged "vandalism" by the opposition members in the legislative assembly premises.

"The glass panes of chief minister's chamber were broken by the suspended congress members besides damaging other property of the assembly," revenue minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju said. He was joined by TDP and BJP in condemning the behaviour of the suspended members terming it as an "attack on the democracy."
Majlis members, who walked out in protest against the suspension of congress members, however, joined the ruling party and BJP in condemning the "vandalism".

Bureau Report