Amaravati, March 4 (NationPress) The YSR Congress Party, serving as the opposition, has called for the immediate dismissal of Andhra Pradesh's Agriculture Minister, Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, following his controversial remarks in the Legislative Council aimed at Chairman K. Moshenu Raju, which were perceived as targeting his religion.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Council, Botsa Satyanarayana, along with senior party figures Merugu Nagarjuna and TJR Sudhakar Babu, condemned the minister's actions, labeling it a disturbing moment in the annals of democracy.

In a statement released from Tadepalli, they expressed that the occurrences in the Council represented a direct assault on democratic principles and the integrity of parliamentary traditions.

The leaders criticized what they described as the degrading and offensive conduct of both ministers and TDP members toward the Council Chairman, asserting that targeting an individual in a constitutional role based on caste and religion is contrary to the values and respect that legislative institutions uphold.

The YSRCP officials claimed that the incident was orchestrated under the direction of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and that remarks from Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu were not mere lapses but intentional attacks.

They expressed alarm that such insults occurred while Minister Nara Lokesh was present in the House.

Insulting a leader in a constitutional position, especially a Dalit leader, by questioning his religion and caste is seen not just as a personal affront but as a violation of the tenets of social justice and equality. They argued that querying the Chairman about his faith has tarnished the reputation of the legislature.

Moreover, they suggested that the ruling coalition is attempting to deflect attention from irregularities associated with Heritage Foods by politicizing the issue surrounding the Tirumala laddu.

According to the opposition, the ruling party's frustration was evident when questions backed by evidence regarding irregularities in the procurement of Tirumala ghee were raised, including allegations of inflated rates through a Heritage-connected entity. This led to deliberate chaos in the House.

They asserted that the attack on the Chairman's integrity appears to be part of a broader strategy to manage Council proceedings and obscure discussions on these pertinent matters.

In light of these events, YSRCP leaders are demanding swift action against Minister Atchannaidu for behavior that threatens the fabric of democratic institutions, calling for his exit from the state cabinet.

They underscored that maintaining the dignity of legislative bodies is a collective responsibility of all members, warning that incidents like these erode democratic traditions and constitutional values.