Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council witnessed riotous scenes on Friday over statements by Backward Classes Minister S. Savitha that money transferred to women and youth in economically weaker sections by the YSR Congress government had led to a section of youth and women becoming dependent on ganja in the state.

After the minister’s statements, opposition members stood up and started protesting. They demanded that Savitha apologize for her comments.

Council chairman Koyye Moshen Raju also expressed displeasure at the comments and wanted them expunged from the record.

This did not satisfy the opposition members who stepped into the well of the house and demanded that the minister apologize to the women for her remarks. They began to constantly raise slogans “Minister, down, down.” After this, the chairman adjourned the council for a shorter period.

When the council session resumed, Moshen Raju announced that the minister’s comments would be removed from the minutes if found objectionable.

Leader of Opposition Botsa Satyanarayana said the minister’s comments have been directed against the YSR Congress and demanded that they be removed from the council’s records.

Minister Savitha clarified that she did not utter any offensive words. She said she had referred to some women and young people who had become addicted to ganja, because they received money under the welfare system, without the possibility of self-employment. She made it clear that she was not only targeting women from economically backward classes.

With this, the members of the council calmed down and the chairman moved on with planned matters for the day.