Members of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly today paid rich tributes to Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid revolutionary leader and former president of South Africa, who passed away last week.

The winter session of the House, which assembled here today after nearly six months, initially was a witness to noisy scenes with members of Telugu Desam Party and Telangana Rashtra Samithi pressing for their respective demands and rushing to the well of the house. They also raised slogans in support of a unified state and separate statehood cause respectively.

However, after repeated requests by the Legislative Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar, they resumed to their seats and the members paid tributes to the departed leader.

Initiating the proceedings, State Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy described Mandela as the tallest peak in the history of mankind. He said Mandela fought relentlessly against apartheid and always highlighted issues relating to human rights.

Describing Mandela as a great warrior who fought for the freedom and rights, he said he will always be remembered for the sacrifices in fighting for human rights and discrimination against people.

The Chief Minister said that Mandela was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1990 and Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for all the great work he spearheaded for peoples’ cause.

TDP Leader N.Chandrababu said Mandela showed the world that anything could be achieved through non-violence. Mandela followed the good work and in footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi and by sticking to non-violence he managed to rid South Africa of apartheid.

After several speakers expressed their views, the House paid homage to the South African leader.

>rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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