The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council descended into chaos on Friday after members of the ruling Telugu Desam Party-led NDA coalition accused the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) of committing “blasphemy” during a protest inside the House.
The uproar began when YSRCP members, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Council Botsa Satyanarayana, sought to move an adjournment motion to discuss the alleged nexus between Maharashtra-based Indapur Dairy and Heritage Foods Limited, a company owned by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s family, in the supply of ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). The TTD manages the affairs of the Tirumala temple.
Council Chairman Koyye Moshen Raju rejected the adjournment notice, prompting protests from the opposition benches. In response, YSRCP legislators rushed to the Chairman’s podium, holding photographs of Lord Venkateswara and placards while raising slogans demanding a discussion on the issue.
Ruling party members objected strongly, alleging that the YSRCP members were wearing footwear while carrying the deity’s portraits, calling the act disrespectful. Amid the din, the Chairman adjourned the House briefly.
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When proceedings resumed, tensions escalated further. State Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav described the opposition’s conduct as “shameful” and “nothing short of blasphemy”.
“It is unbecoming of a responsible political party. The YSRCP has scant respect towards God as they entered the House carrying images of the deity while wearing footwear. It is an insult to religious sentiments,” he said.
Keshav accused the opposition of deliberately provoking daily confrontations and claimed their actions had hurt Hindu sentiments and crossed acceptable limits.
BJP MLC Somu Veerraju echoed the criticism, terming the conduct “unforgivable” and demanding that YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy apologise to the Hindu community.
Rejecting the allegations, Botsa Satyanarayana maintained that the opposition had not insulted the deity and accused the ruling coalition of diverting attention from the substantive issue.
With members from both sides raising slogans and engaging in heated exchanges, the House was adjourned until Monday.
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