Uproar in council as YSRCP brings Lord Venkateswara images to seek debate on laddu ghee issue

Vijayawada: The legislative council turned into a battleground between ruling and opposition members for the fifth consecutive day. Opposition YSRCP members sparked controversy by bringing photos of Lord Venkateswara into the House while wearing shoes and chappals, demanding suspension of business to debate the laddu ghee issue. Ruling party members strongly objected to the display of the deity's photos inside the House.YSRCP members had given notice for an adjournment motion to discuss the SIT report on the laddu ghee case and alleged ties between Heritage and Indapur dairies. Council chairman K Moshenu Raju rejected both motions, prompting YSRCP members to raise slogans while displaying the pictures.Legislative affairs minister Payyavula Keshav took strong objection to the act, urging the chairman to restrain opposition members from "bringing God into politics." He said the opposition insulted devotees by holding the photos while wearing footwear. With neither side willing to relent, the Chairman adjourned the House for 10 minutes. When the same scenes repeated after recess, the House was adjourned for the day.Later, ruling party members lodged a complaint with the chairman seeking action against YSRCP members for carrying the deity's photos with footwear inside the council. Keshav alleged that opposition members insulted Hindu sentiments by throwing the photos on the floor. "The YSRCP and its leaders do not believe in God and must apologise to Hindus," he said.Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Botcha Satyanarayana accused the ruling coalition of evading debate on the ghee issue. He said YSRCP would continue to press for discussion on the alleged ties between Heritage and Indapur dairies, claiming the government stood exposed and was running away from accountability.