MUMBAI: Enraged by media reports that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajsekhara Reddy had abused Maharashtra at a press conference in Hyderabad yesterday, the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Wednesday took a rather unprecedented step of tabling a censure motion against him.

But Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh suggested that it was necessary to verify the statement and confirm its authenticity before adopting the resolution. "If Dr. Reddy has really said so, then the Government itself will table such a resolution on Thursday," he said.

His suggestion helped the rising tempers to cool down. BJP member Sudhir Mungantiwar had tabled the resolution, which had found support across party barriers. Had it been put to vote, the censure motion would have been adopted unanimously.

The members were angry because Dr. Reddy had reportedly termed Maharashtra "shameless' at a press conference called to condemn Maharashtra police's lathicharge on TDP activists.

The Chief Minister said the Supreme Court hearing was scheduled on April 25 for which Andhra Pradesh could have waited.

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