BY IANS,
Hyderabad: A Supreme Court notice to some Andhra Pradesh ministers for allegedly helping YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy amass illegal wealth sparked an uproar in the state assembly Monday, with the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) demanding their resignations.
Deputy Speaker Bhatti Vikramarka had to adjourn the house for the day as TDP members stalled the proceedings by surrounding the podium demanding resignations of the “tainted” ministers.
TDP member P. Keshav raised the issue in the house and demanded a debate on the Supreme Court issuing notice to six ministers and 11 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers serving in the state.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy intervened to say that the Supreme Court has not passed any comments on any minister. He said the government would respond after the ministers receive the notice.
“The government is ready to defend itself and the ministers in the court and outside the court. We are ready for a debate but let us first know the details,” he said.
This failed to pacify the TDP members, who continued raising slogans. Amid the pandemonium, the speaker adjourned the house for some time. When the house re-assembled, the TDP continued its protest, forcing the deputy speaker to adjourn the house for the day.
The apex court Monday issued notice on a petition by an advocate, who sought a probe against the ministers and bureaucrats allegedly involved in issuing government orders during late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure to favour his son, Jaganmohan Reddy.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is already probing Jaganmohan Reddy’s assets on a direction by the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Talking to reporters, Keshav said the TDP stood vindicated with the Supreme Court issuing notice to the “corrupt” ministers.
“We had been speaking against the corruption indulged in by the YSR government and the corruption is still continuing,” he said.
The TDP urged the chief minister to dismiss the ministers if they failed to resign on their own.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India-Marxist has also demanded the resignation of the ministers.