Bedlam in Assembly over pensions: The Assembly on Wednesday witnessed noisy scenes following a protest by Congress members that senior citizens committed suicide as they failed to access social security pensions of the government. Flashing newspaper reports about the death of some aged and demanding an urgent debate on the issue, the Congress group led by T. Jeevan Reddy stormed the well of the House as soon as the day’s business began but the government insisted it was due to table a statement later in the day. The Congress members protested even as the Speaker S. Madhusudhana Chary tried to convince the party to agree to completion of the question hour before any other business was taken up. The Legislative Affairs Minister T. Harish Rao said it has become a habit with the Congress to stall the House everyday as it was not interested in debating public issues. Amidst the confusion, the Speaker adjourned the House for one hour but there was no improvement in the situation on resumption. Mr. Chary, meanwhile, dismissed the notice for adjournment motion moved by the Leader of Opposition K. Jana Reddy seeking a debate on apprehensions of people that their pensions would be withdrawn. In the din, he also allowed Finance Minister Eatala Rajender to introduce a Bill providing for the establishment of a contingency fund for Telangana. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao then read out the statement tabled in the House but he requested the Speaker not to allow a debate on it as it was reserved for Thursday. Mr. Jana Reddy wanted the statement as well as the debate. Mr. Rao said the government introduced Aasara scheme of pensions at an enhanced rate to tackle the increasing cost of living and inflation. The amount paid was the highest in the country.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 08:01:19 +0000
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