MIM forces graft debate in AP Assembly

The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen on Tuesday succeeded in forcing a debate on corruption, particularly on the Supreme Court notices to ministers and IAS officers, in the Assembly. The House will take up the debate on March 28.

MIM Floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, using his tact, made Telugu Desam president N.Chand-rababu Naidu retract on his earlier strategy to register a mere protest and demand a full-fledged debate. He also put the government in a tight spot and forced it too to agree for the debate. Mr Owaisi turned tables against Mr Naidu, by saying that the TD chief has lost focus on the main issue of corruption in his pursuit to settle scores with the MIM.

"Don't let go of your earlier demand for a debate," he told Mr Naidu, who had no choice but to revive his demand of full-fledged debate. Though he did not name Kadapa MP Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy by name, the Majlis leader alleged that the government had been indirectly protecting a "gentleman" who amassed wealth of crores of rupees. "It is in this gentleman's assets case that the court issued notices to ministers," Mr Owaisi said.

He wanted the government to clear the air about the legal validity of the contentious GOs. "Do you agree that the gentleman made money? If so, with whose support did he make it? If you agree that the money is made illegally, why are you not coming out openly," Mr Owaisi questioned the Treasury benches. The two-hour long discussion on whether to allow a debate on corruption saw interesting twists and turns. At one stage, the onus of holding the debate lay on Speaker N. Manohar as the CM expressed willingness to reply if the Chair permitted discussion as per rules. 

The Speaker later convened a meeting of the Business Advisory Comm-ittee and decided to take up the issue for discussion one day before the end of the Budget session.

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