MR. CHAIRMAN: Shri Yerrannaidu, please come to the front seat.... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Order please.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : I am the youngest Member. For a new Member ... (Interruptions) I stand here on behalf of the Telugu Desam Party. It is a party that stands committed to the defence of the regional aspirations and hopes. The four decades' old Congress rule has been marked by misrule, corruption, nepotism, favoritism, groupism, casteism and maladministration. The regional aspirations and people's hopes have been..... (Interruptions)
SHRI AJIT JOGI : I wish to raise a point of order under Rule 352. I will read out Rule 352 which says:
"A Member while speaking shall not-
read a written speech except with the previous permission of the Chair."
The hon. Member is reading from a written speech.... (Interruptions)
Let him give the ruling. ... (Interruptions)
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : I am a new Member. I am reading out the Resolution of my Party.... (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Shri Naidu, you should not read it out.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : There is no point of order. I am a new Member. You please come to my rescue.
SHRI MADAN LAL KHURANA: He is reading out the Resolution of his Party.
15.57 hrs (Mr. Speaker in the Chair)
SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA (CALCUTTA NORTH EAST): This is his maiden speech. He is speaking in the House for the first time.
SHRI P. SHIV SHANKER : He was a Cabinet Minister in the last Government.
SHRI AJIT JOGI : The rule is very clear. It says that a Member shall not read from a written speech.
KUMARI MAMATA BANERJEE : He is reading a part of the Resolution.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Sir, I seek your protection. There are a number of precedents in this august House. I have seen a number of senior hon. Members of the House, quoting from some books or reading out the speeches. I am a second time Member. The Eleventh Lok Sabha was dissolved within two years of its constitution. So, We are just new Members. I am
reading out from the Resolution of my Party. This is a discussion on the Motion of Confidence. I seek your protection. You please come to my rescue.
SHRI AJIT JOGI : One can only quote, not read from a written speech. We want your ruling.
MR. SPEAKER: He was only quoting it. He was not reading out the speech.
... (Interruptions)
PROF. P.J. KURIEN (MAVELIKARA): Please give the ruling, whatever it may be.
SHRI AJIT JOGI : Sir, I have raised a point of order. Kindly give a ruling. ... (Interruptions)
16.00 hrs.
MR. SPEAKER: Please sit down.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am quoting from my Party's Resolution. What is wrong in it? Yesterday, senior Members have quoted from manifestos. ...(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Yerrannaidu, you can quote from a document but you cannot read your speech.
KUMARI MAMATA BANERJEE: Then Sir, you should not allow other Members also to read.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Sir, Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, the President of Congress, had clearly stated in the recent election campaign that regional parties were lacking a national perspective. She made many remarks like that. ...(Interruptions) The Congress Party always thought that Indira was India and Congress was the country. The Telugu Desam Party is the people's party. ...(Interruptions)
SEVERAL HON. MEMBERS: He is reading out.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU: No, I am just quoting. ...(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Yerrannaidu, please address the Chair.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Mr. Speaker, Sir, the people of Andhra Pradesh suffered decades of Congress misrule. Telugu Desam Party was established by Shri N.T. Rama Rao following the thirty-five year misrule of Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh.
SHRI TARIQ ANWAR (KATIHAR): Mr. Speaker, Sir, his Chief Minister was in the Congress Party.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Before Independence, all were in the Congress. Despite that so many parties are there now. In a democracy everybody has a right to establish a party. ...(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Yerrannaidu, please address the Chair.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : From the sufferings of the Telugu people emerged Telugu Desam Party, a people's party, a party committed to restore the self-respect of Telugu people and to bring about all-round development in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Our founder President Shri N.T. Rama Rao's dreams are being converted into reality.
Our dynamic visionary, the most capable Chief Minister Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu is moulding the State into a modern State. He has a clear vision. He wants to develop Andhra Pradesh with a vision of 2020. That is why, the Telugu Desam Party always fought for more powers to the States. We always fought for the implementation of the Sarkaria Commission's report.
The Telugu Desam Party's manifesto is now included in the BJP's National Agenda. We first passed a resolution in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly twice. We sent it to the Union Government for its inclusion in the National Agenda.
What is wrong in it? (Interruptions) The Telugu Desam party stands for cooperative federalism, secularism, democracy, decentralisation, and development. I draw you attention, Sir, to the 1996 elections that marked a historic change - a change that saw the Congress thrown out by the people. (Interruptions) The people's verdict was for the formation of a democratic, secular, liberal, and coalition Government.
Thanks to the initiative of our leader, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, the United Front was formed. The United Front brought together the regional and national parties, ironed out the differences and arrived at a consensus. It was a crucial event in the history of Indian politics and the Congress decided to support the United Front out of situational compulsions and helplessness. At that time, the Congress party supported the United Front Government.
In the recent meeting of the United Front - all members were aware that he is the Convenor of the United Front - ... (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: He is quoting, not reading.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Without informing the Convenor of the United Front, they have taken a decision to support the Congress Party. The Congress party supported the Speaker. In the present circumstances, the Convenor of the United Front left the United Front in the interests of the State and as per the wishes of the people of Andhra Pradesh.
We, in the United Front hoped that it would not be just one more Government, but an alternative and a better system of governance. I am quoting some paragraphs from the resolution. Yesterday also, some senior Members quoted from the manifesto. This is the resolution sent by fax. (Interruptions)
The Telugu Desam party, as a partner of the United Front, strove to provide a system of governance founded on the pillars of unity, stability, secularism, development and distributive justice. The Congress, however, had other ideas. It was impossible for the Congress leaders to stay away from power. They are power-mongers. They always want power. That is why, the previous Congress President, Shri Sitaram Kesri has promised to this nation that Shri Gujral would hoist the National Flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 15th August. What happened to that promise? It has cheated four Governments of Shri Charan Singh, Shri Gujral, Shri Deva Gowda and Shri V.P. Singh - I am rectifying - Shri Chandra Shekhar.
The Congress party wants to come to power by hook or crook. This is the only goal of the Congress. The people, their feelings, their welfare and their development are all irrelevant and non-existent for the Congress. How can we support such a party? You tell us. ... (Interruptions)
Please listen. You will be given a chance. ... (Interruptions)
Mr. Speaker, Sir, ... (Interruptions) What is wrong in it? I am appealing to you to cooperate. You are all senior Members.
MR. SPEAKER: I am not allowing.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Mr. Speaker, Sir, my request is that I am elected only for a second time to this august House. I have got elected four times for the Legislative Assembly. I was elected to the last Lok Sabha and I was made a Cabinet Minister.
This is my first experience as a Member. I am requesting all of you to cooperate with me. If I am elected a number of times, I will also be far more better than all of you. The time will tell. Please cooperate
with me. ...(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Kinjarapu Yerrannaidu, please address the Chair.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Due to the reasons which I have told you, how can we support the Congress Government? How can our friends in the United Front think of lending support to such a selfish, self-centered, corrupt, anti-people, power mongering and thoroughly unprincipled party? I cannot understand as to why our colleagues are supporting the Congress party?
The United Front contested the 1998 polls on a clear anti-Congress plank. The constituents vowed not to have anything to do with the Congress. For reasons of political expediency, however, leaders of some of the constituents of the United Front have now executed a total about turn. It is ironic that those who opposed the Congress and suffered at its hands have now chosen to sail with them. Having themselves deviated from their original principles and opposition to the Congress, it is strange that they criticize the Telugu Desam Party which has been steadfast in its adherence to principles and value based politics!
When the United Front or the Left of it decides to support the Congress, our party had no option but to disassociate itself from the United Front. Any other course of action would be counter to the feelings of not only the TDP cadres and leaders but also the people of my State, Andhra Pradesh. There was no way of our party supporting a Congress nominee for the post of Speaker of this august House; as such a course of action would be detrimental to the interests of my party, party cadres and my State.
Sir, we feed proud and privileged to have contributed the first dalit Speaker of this country, who is a true representative of youth and regional parties. We thank all those people who rendered support to us in this mission without division, with voice vote and supported the young and dynamic regional party man. For that, on behalf of my party, TDP, I am congratulating all of you.
When we founded the United Front Government we had fond hopes of providing an alternative system of governance in the country, fully dedicated to the welfare of the people and development of the country. Thanks to the evil designs of the Congress, we have not been able to fully fulfil our objectives. The verdict of the 1998 elections went against the United Front. ....(Interruptions) Mr. Speaker, Sir, I do not know as to why are they crying like this. ...(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Please take your seat first. This is not good.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Mr. Speaker, Sir, the hon. Member, Shri Bapi Raju and myself were in the State Assembly during the last
16 years. ...(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Now you speak about the motion of confidence and not about Shri Bapi Raju.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : The 1998 elections went against the United Front Government. In the recent elections, people had given clear mandate against the United Front Government. The BJP emerged as the single largest party and along with its allies it has won a substantial number of seats, almost reaching the magical figure of majority in the House. Not only the people's votes, but the public sentiment seems to be favouring the BJP as the ruling side and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the Prime Minister. The Telugu Desam Party has no intentions of coming in the way.
Coalition governments have come to stay in our country and the future belongs to only coalition governments. Without regional parties, there is no Central Government.
Even the Congress Party is also criticising the regional parties. I am asking through you, Sir, the Congress Party. In future also, without support from the regional parties, there is no Union Government in this country. I am telling that is my firm belief.
Coalition Governments have come to stay in our country and the future belongs to only coalition Governments.
... (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER : Please conclude.
SHRI KINJARAPU YERRANNAIDU (SRIKAKULAM): I will conclude.
MR. SPEAKER : You please wind up.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI KINJARAPU YERRANNAIDU (SRIKAKULAM): Sir, Telugu Desam has 12 Members. We should get a chance for two Members to speak. That is why I am taking my chance.
MR. SPEAKER : Please conclude.
SHRI KINJARAPU YERRANNAIDU (SRIKAKULAM): The hon. Chair has given permission for two members from my Party. I am taking that time also. What is wrong in it? (Interruptions)
We foresaw this trend clearly even during the pre-1996 elections and predicted coalition Government. During the pre-1996 elections, before the people had given the mandate, the Telugu Desam Party predicted that. We mentioned it in the Telugu Desam Party's manifesto that after 1996, Eleventh Lok Sabha elections, this country has only coalition Governments. That happened in the Eleventh Lok Sabha. (Interruptions) I am telling it though everybody knows. ... (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER : Do not disturb him.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : Everybody knows everything. Why are we here?
We are happy that the BJP has chosen to avoid contentious issues like Ayodhya, Common Civil Code and Article 370 from the national agenda. This is also a very good thing. This is the wish of the people of Andhra Pradesh. I am appreciating the BJP on these three aspects.
No party or parties can form a good Government unless they dedicate themselves to the principles of democracy, secularism and federalism. A true Government should provide a representative, responsible and responsive governance to the people. Telugu Desam Party will play its role in national politics with sincerity, commitment and a high degree of sense and responsibility. Our party will endeavour to substantially improve the lot of the weaker sections, particularly in the whole country.
Telugu Desam Party's supremo, the founder of the TDP, started a residential school for the first time in the Indian history. Those things are incorporated in the national agenda. The BJP Government wants to give top priority to the backward classes, minorities, SCs and STs.
Telugu Desam Party has an unwavering commitment to secularism and the well-being of minorities. I will give one example to show the Telugu Desam Party's commitment to secularism. In the previous Governments in Andhra Pradesh, in their Budgets, only rupees four crore were allotted to the minorities. After Shri Chandra Babu Naidu came into power as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, in our Budget we earmarked Rs.50 crore for minorities. I am telling that we are committed to secularism.
We believe in the development of the country and the welfare of the people. We are dedicated to governance based on federalism, decentralisation, accountability, equality and social justice. We will act in the best interests of the people we represent.
The defeat of this Government will result in the entry of the Congress through the backdoor which we cannot accept under any circumstances. We are clear that the nation needs stability. Stability is the need of the hour. Our Telugu Desam Party is committed to stability. Thank you one
and all.(Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER : Shri Indrajit Gupta.
... (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER : I am not yielding. I called Shri Indrajit Gupta.
... (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER : No, this will not go on record.
... (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER : This will not go on record. I called Shri Indrajit Gupta.
... (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: This will not go on record. I call now Shri Indrajit Gupta. He is a learned man. Please cooperate with the Chair.
(Interruptions)*
MR. SPEAKER: Please take your seat. I have not allowed you. This will not go on record. You are a senior Member. Please take your seat. I have called Shri Indrajit Gupta.
... (Interruptions)
SHRI E. AHAMED : Sir, I want to make a submission. (Interruptions).
MR. SPEAKER: No submission. I have called Shri Gupta. Please take your seat.
... (Interruptions)
_____________________________________________________________________________
* Not recorded.
SHRI E. AHAMED : I also did not complain. (Interruptions).
SHRI INDRAJIT GUPTA : Anyway, I am not complaining though I have been here for 35 years. I think, I should have been called much earlier. It is all right. If you direct me that I should confine my remarks to two or three minutes only I will do that. I have many things to say but I cannot do it within this time.
I found that there was something a bit unreal in the whole atmosphere of this debate because we have been asked to express our confidence in a Government which does not appear to have confidence in itself! How can we express confidence in a Government which does not have confidence in itself and for that reason, I find, is organising here in Delhi pooja and mahayagya since yesterday in order to pray for the stability of this Government? Many of the Ministers, leaders of the B.J.P. and also of the V.H.P., I find, have been attending the mahayagya in which I do not know how much quantity of ghee and wood, etc, is being used. This is not a sign of confidence. This is a sign of nervousness.
Therefore, in this short time, I will just list out four or five points. I am not going to dilate on them as to the reason why we do not find it possible to give our confidence to this Government.
The very first principle on which all other parties here have been expressing themselves is the need for transparency. Without transparency, no Government can function nowadays. But I am sorry to say that the way - I do not mean any offence to you, Sir, as a person at all - the choice of the new Speaker was made - not the person but the way it was done - there was nothing transparent about it. It was almost a secretive act which took everybody by surprise. In fact, if I am not wrong, the hon. Speaker has also stated - I read in the newspapers a statement by him - that when he was boarding the plane to come from Hyderabad to Delhi, up to that time he himself did not know why he was being called here. And one BJP leader has admitted that he did not know the name of this new incumbent for the Speakership.
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