AP Assembly passes Appropriation Bill; YSRC stages walkout

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly today passed the Appropriation Bill for a proposed expenditure of Rs 1,56,999 crore for the year 2017-18, even as the lone opposition YSR Congress staged a walkout over the leakage of Class X examination papers.
The question paper leakage issue rocked the House with the YSRC demanding that Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana be dismissed from the Cabinet as the leak emanated from his Narayana educational institutions.
They also demanded action against HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, a close relative of Narayana.
Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao adjourned the proceedings twice, but to no avail. He even warned the YSRC members, who stormed his podium holding placards and raising slogans, not to "misbehave".

After a lot of sloganeering, the opposition legislators finally staged a walkout even as several Bills were "passed" amid the din.
Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu then highlighted the Budget saying the government's focus would be on curbing fiscal deficit and borrowings through fiscal discipline.

"During 2016-17, we spent Rs 1.38 lakh crore, which is more than 100 per cent of the Rs 1.35 lakh crore estimate. That shows the development in the state," Yanamala said.
A sum of Rs 28,000 crore was spent over and above the budgetary allocations, he added.
Government whip Kuna Ravi Kumar and others spoke on the Appropriation Bill.