FRACAS IN THE ASSEMBLY

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly

I have just seen the news that there has been some jostling in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, involving members of the Telugu Desam Party and the Congress (I). It comes just forty days after the manhandling of DR. Jayaprakash Narayan on the premises of the Assembly. The current budget session of Andhra Pradesh Assembly has been very little discussion on the budget. It has been adjourned more than often.

While inept Assembly sessions have become the norm in Andhra Pradesh, particularly over the last couple of years, I cannot recall the last time there such tension and violence in the house. Well one might argue that a slap in anger, or a push or a shove should not be blown out of proportion, but we are discussing the conduct of our beloved Members of Legislative Assemblies, who represent an entire constituency. These MLAs are no kids in the park fighting over the right to bat. Each of them is symbolic of the hopes that we the voters have. After all have not elected them, discounting the other contenders in the elections!!!

A supposedly provocative speech by Dr. JP was all that KTR required to shout “Kottandiraa Vadnee.” Well KTR and his other nine mates might have been infuriated with the speech of DR. JP. But does that justify KTR to provoke his henchmen to bash up another MLA. KTR and his friends could have addressed another press conference, if they wanted to prove their point. However, it seems to me KTR and his friends were more interested in playing to the galleries.

Today, there are reports that a minister has slapped another member of the house (pushed and jostled if you go by some other sources). While the minister could have been infuriated with the opposition’s attempts to malign his departed brother; he could have probably shown his displeasure in another manner. It is despicable that our law makers are turning into law breakers in front of media and their colleagues. I shudder to think what their tolerance limits would be in the private realm when they are way from the public gaze.

It is said most of our MLAs have criminal background. It is also reported that most of them use intemperate language. I guess it has been a case so far. But to indulge in your whims in public, resort to violence in the house is to demean the nation, and the constitution. Right outside the Legislative Assembly is a giant statue of Mohandas Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, who said “an eye for eye makes us all blind”. It is ironical that our legislators seem to be physically fighting each other right behind his back.

The current budget session ends in a couple of days, with little discussion on the budget. The budget session is the most important of all the sessions. The actions of our representatives seem to suggest that they do not have time for budget. Perhaps it is time for us to rethink our choices and replace the mainstream parties with new political culture.  

Editorial by: Joe Christopher