Oppn members suspended from Andhra Assembly

Sixty-two opposition members were suspended from the state Assembly on Thursday following a furore over the alleged illegal iron ore mining by Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC) owned by Karnataka tourism minister G Janardhan Reddy. 

The entire Opposition demanded constitution of a House Committee to probe the irregularities by OMC in iron ore mining at Obulapuram in Anantapur district, bordering Karnataka.

The ruling party, however, did not concede to their demand stating that an all-party committee was constituted two years ago with representatives from TDP, TRS, BJP and the Left parties, which had toured the mining site and given a clean chit.

The issue triggered stormy scenes during the Question Hour with the Opposition and treasury benches trading charges and counter charges.

Leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the mining company was encroaching into areas for which it holds no licence, re-drawing the boundaries at will and resorting to brazen violation of rules. "The government is backing the illegal mining. The chief minister is unwilling for the committee as he is a partner in the mining company,” he alleged.

Claiming that his party was ready to prove the irregularities at the mining site, he demanded a House Committee inquiry to ferret out facts. Other Opposition parties including actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party, CPI, CPI-M and Telangana Rashtra Samithi also sought constitution of a House Committee

Rebuffing the Opposition charges, the chief minister clarified that the state government conducted a comprehensive survey of the mining boundaries by three different agencies. “The survey has concluded that there are no irregularities,” he said.

Not satisfied with the government’s reply, some TDP members surrounded Speaker N Kirankumar Reddy’s podium and shouted slogans.

The Speaker later announced suspension of 62 members belonging to TDP, TRS and Left parties for a day for stalling the proceedings.