BRS seeks longer Assembly session, lists 19 issues for discussion

The BRS has demanded that the ongoing Telangana Budget session be extended till March 31 and sought detailed discussions on 19 public issues. Party leader T Harish Rao also raised concerns over the absence of Question Hour and delays in replies

Hyderabad: The main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Monday demanded that the ongoing Budget session be continued till March 31 and sought detailed discussions on a wide range of public issues during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting. The state budget is scheduled to be presented on March 20, with the government proposing to run the session till March 30.

In an informal interaction with mediapersons after the BAC meeting at the Assembly, BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao pointed out that the effective working days would be fewer due to two holidays and two festivals. The BRS urged the Speaker to increase the number of sitting days, even suggesting that the House function on Sundays, and sought extension of the session at least till March 31.

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He said the party objected to the absence of Question Hour in the schedule and raised concerns over delays in replies to unstarred questions and Zero Hour issues. He said the party would boycott future BAC meetings if decisions taken were not implemented during the current session.

The BRS also requested permission to introduce a Private Member Bill seeking statutory backing for the Six Guarantees and asked that its members be allowed to speak on the issue.

The party also complained that the privilege motion moved against the Chief Minister was not being taken up, pointed out delays in the formation of House Committees and also the appointment of a Deputy Speaker. Objecting to frequent disruptions by the treasury benches, the BRS urged the Speaker not to allow anyone except the Chief Minister, the Legislative Affairs Minister and the minister of the subject concerned to speak during the discussion.

Harish Rao said the BRS had submitted a list of 19 issues for discussion, including farmers’ problems, delay in welfare schemes, Musi project demolitions, Singareni tenders, unemployment, pending dues to employees, irrigation issues, rising crime, fee reimbursement arrears, RTC workers’ demands and alleged irregularities in land and municipal administration, among others.