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TDP disrupts governor's budget session address

By Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
February 14, 2005

The six-week budget session of the Andhra Pradesh assembly started on a stormy note on Monday when the opposition Telugu Desam Party disrupted Governor Sushilkumar Shinde's address to the House.

The TDP members raised slogans and displayed placards to protest against the killing of party legislator Paritala Ravi in Anantapur on January 24. They wore black badges to mark their protest.

The TDP demanded the Congress government's dismissal and blamed Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, his son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and Panchayat Raj Minister J C Diwakar Reddy for the murder.

The Central Bureau of Investigation is probing the murder on a request from the government.

Before the session began, Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu refused to exchange pleasantries with the CM.

In the morning, the TDP boycotted the breakfast hosted by Speaker K R Suresh Reddy.

Despite the interruptions, the governor continued to read his speech where he reiterated the government's resolve to continue peace talks with the naxals.

Shinde also pointed out that the government had initiated steps to bring the representatives of various naxalite groups to the negotiating table. "This, in itself, was a great achievement," he observed, adding, "my government is firm in its resolve to continue the talks."

He also recalled the various initiatives launched by the Congress in the last nine months. "My government had sincerely initiated action immediately after assuming office on May 14, 2004. It will, however, be naïve to believe that all these problems could be resolved in their entirety in a short span of time," he added.

Also read:

TDP MLA's murder: Graphic details

Andhra-Naxalite talks to continue

'Andhra CM behind MLA's killing'
Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

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