Newly nominated TDP MLC Varla Ramaiah criticised YSRCP members for alleged disruptions in the Legislative Council and urged them to respect parliamentary procedures.
Mangalagiri: Newly nominated TDP MLC Varla Ramaiah has criticised the conduct of YSRCP members in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, alleging that protests and slogans were taking precedence over legislative debate and scrutiny.
Addressing the media at the TDP Central Office, Ramaiah said he had recently taken oath as an MLC under the Governor’s quota. He said his first experience of a full Council session was disappointing, alleging that YSRCP members gathered around the Chairman’s chair, raised slogans, displayed placards and disrupted proceedings.
Ramaiah said the Legislative Council, as the Upper House, has an important role in examining Bills passed by the Assembly, debating legislation and suggesting improvements before laws are enacted.
Referring to Article 169 of the Constitution, he said the Council had a significant constitutional responsibility and should function with dignity, discipline and maturity.
Ramaiah questioned whether YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had properly instructed his party’s MLCs on the rules and responsibilities of the Council.
He alleged that some members were more focused on protests and taking photographs during demonstrations than participating in legislative discussions. He urged the YSRCP leadership to ensure that its legislators follow parliamentary procedures and avoid disruptive behaviour.
Ramaiah also criticised allegations raised by YSRCP leaders over the Mega DSC teacher recruitment process.
He said HRD Minister Nara Lokesh had challenged Jagan to debate the allegations and questioned why the challenge had not been accepted.
Ramaiah said senior officials, including Chief of Department Ajay Jain and senior School Education Department officials, had already publicly explained the recruitment process. He also said senior women officials had offered to clarify any genuine doubts raised by candidates or others.
According to Ramaiah, the continuing allegations were creating anxiety among teachers selected through the recruitment process. He said those with credible evidence should approach the courts instead of creating uncertainty among candidates and their families.
He claimed that 341 petitions relating to the issue had been dismissed by the courts.
Ramaiah also objected to what he described as the alleged treatment of Legislative Council Chairman Moshen Raju during the protests.
He said the Chairman deserved respect and cooperation from all members, irrespective of their political affiliation, and that the Council’s proceedings should not be obstructed.
He maintained that the YSRCP’s numerical strength in the Council should not be treated as a licence to disrupt proceedings.
Drawing a comparison with the Pandavas and Kauravas, Ramaiah said numbers alone did not determine who was on the side of justice and that political consequences would ultimately be decided by the people.
Ramaiah appealed to Jagan Mohan Reddy to hold a meeting with YSRCP MLCs and explain the constitutional provisions and rules governing the Legislative Council.
He urged the opposition members to use the House for meaningful debate, raise issues affecting the people and avoid unparliamentary language and disruptive protests.
Ramaiah said he hoped the initial disruption would remain an isolated episode and that future Council sessions would be conducted with dignity, discipline and constructive debate.
He said the people of Andhra Pradesh were watching the conduct of their representatives and expected the Legislative Council to function as a genuine forum for legislative scrutiny and public interest.
