Govt to be grilled!

Desaraju Surya / TNN / Feb 12, 2007, 02:30 IST

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A united opposition is ready to launch a blistering attack on the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy govt during the Budget session.

HYDERABAD: A united opposition is ready to launch a blistering attack on the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government during the Budget session of the Assembly that gets underway on Monday.
The customary governor's address will set the tone for the proceedings for the session expected to continue till March-end, with the likely presentation of the Budget on February 19.
Unlike last year's Budget session where the Sripada Sagar irrigation project row dominated the proceedings, this session could well see attacks and counter-attacks between the treasury and the opposition benches on a wide range of subjects, ranging from assigned lands to the sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities; from the neglect of welfare sector to the power woes and also location of IIT and the irrigation projects, particularly Pothireddypadu.
The proposed Special Economic Zones and the related land acquisition process, of course, would be high on the opposition agenda to embarrass the government.

On its part, the ruling party is "prepared" to counter the opposition onslaught. "In the last two and half years, the opposition never had an upper hand in the Assembly. This time too they will be exposed if they don't let the House transact its normal business," government chief whip N Kiran Kumar Reddy told TOI.
The principal opposition Telugu Desam Party provided a breather ahead of the session to the ruling Congress party by announcing its intention to allow the conduct of Question Hour smoothly. In fact, other opposition parties too are keen on seeing the Question Hour through everyday as otherwise they stand to lose an important opportunity to raise vital issues of public interest.

Other than this, the opposition parties are certain to give a tough time for the treasury benches as each of them is ready with its own agenda apart from issues of common concern. The TDP, for instance, wants to expose the government on the gross neglect of the welfare sector and large cuts in welfare budget apart from the land issues.
For the CPM, the Polavaram evacuees issue will be the prime focus while for the TRS the failure in implementation of GO 610 will be the main weapon to hit at the YSR regime. "The state government has crossed the century mark in its wrongdoings. We will expose all this in the Assembly," said TD legislature party deputy leader Nagam Janardhana Reddy.
Kiran Kumar Reddy said the government was ready to provide answers to whatever issue the opposition would raise. "The discussions should be around the budget but we will not shy away from anything that the opposition intends to raise. But they have to follow the set procedures and act in accordance with the Speaker's directions," he added.

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