Appropriation Bill passed without debate

HYDERABAD: The state assembly on Tuesday passed the Appropriation Bill-2011 without any debate amidst procedural wrangle and heated exchanges between the treasury and the opposition benches.
While the government wanted that the Appropriation Bill be passed first and then the debate on the irregularities in allotment of land for SEZs and projects be taken up later, the opposition insisted that the debate be taken up first.It apprehended that the government might adjourn the House sine die without concluding the debate and avoid constitution of a House committee, a demand which had led to stalling of the proceedings for last nine days.
The assurances given by the finance minister A Ramanarayan Reddy and the chief minister failed to convince the members. At one stage, the opposition suggested that the government announce its intention to constitute a House committee to probe into the irregularities in land allotment before passing the Appropriation Bill in which case there would be no need for a discussion as well. But the government refused to oblige.
The deputy speaker repeatedly assured the members that there was no need for presumptions and that the debate would continue for any length of time. The House spent about an hour and as the deadlock did not end, deputy speaker N Manohar called upon the finance minister to move the Appropriation Bill which was adopted by a voice vote.
Earlier in the day, proceedings of the House were adjourned as loyalists of YS Jaganmohan Reddy displayed placards on the alleged links of N Chandrababu Naidu with Hasan Ali. As the plea made by the deputy speaker not to display placards in view of the violent incident that took place on Monday fell on deaf ears, he adjourned the Assembly for 30 minutes, but it lasted over an hour.