Amaravati, February 12 Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker C Ayyannapatrudu said on Thursday that while legislators may not succeed in enhancing the prestige of the House, they "do not have the right to undermine it" in the eyes of the public. His remarks came after a turbulent opening of the budget session, during which YSRCP legislators disrupted Governor S Abdul Nazeer's speech by resorting to slogans and tearing up official documents. The Speaker expressed disappointment because the disruptions occurred in the presence of a group of students, who had been invited to witness the proceedings. Addressing the House, he said, "We should keep in mind that it is okay if we do not enhance the prestige of the House, but we do not have the right to undermine it. Everyone should remember this." Ayyannapatrudu noted that students from various schools in the state had been invited to witness the Assembly proceedings to promote civic awareness. "I invited them to form a favorable opinion of legislators, but what will those students learn, what will they think about us?" he asked. He warned that if these impressionable minds develop a negative perception of the legislature, that perception will be impossible to erase. Reflecting on the behavior of the opposition, he urged all legislators to look inward. "There is a need for those responsible to introspect. I appeal to them through this House," he added. On Monday, YSRCP legislators, led by their party supremo YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, had boycotted the House and staged a walkout.
