AP Assembly rocked over the Special Status issue by YSR Congress legislators

The special category status debate for Andhra Pradesh once again sparked off a charged up environment in the AP State Assembly as a scuffle broke out between opposition YSR Congress legislators and marshals inside the Assembly earlier in the day.

The MLAs stormed the Speaker's podium for the second consecutive day demanding immediate discussion on the topic. Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao cautioned the MLAs for their unruly behaviour and adjourned the proceedings for 10 minutes as the opposition protest grew vociferous.

The YSRC members, wearing black robes, took to stage as soon as the House met for the day's proceedings at 9 AM. They demanded that a discussion, through their adjournment motion, be immediately taken up on the issue of the special category status for the state.

Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said the government on its own agreed to make a statement in the House on the announcement made by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley extending a special financial package to AP.  "The Chief Minister was ready to make the statement yesterday but you did not allow it. As decided in the Business Advisory Committee meeting, we can have a discussion in the House only after the Chief Minister makes the statement," Yanamala said.

When YSRC MLA Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy insisted on a discussion without the Chief Minister's statement, Yanamala shot back saying, "Lotus Pond (Jagan's residence-cum-YSRC headquarters) rules don't apply in this House." Following this, the YSRC legislators stormed the Speaker's podium and some of them tried to surround his chair like they did on September 8. However, the marshals were proactive to safeguard the situation, ready in anticipation of the situation and moved in to keep the protesting MLAs at bay.