Hyderabad, Mar 15 (UNI) The CPI(M) today staged a walk out in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly protesting against government's refusal to withdraw a GO imposing ban on direct recruitment of teaching staff in Aided, Junior and Polytechnic colleges.

Answering a short notice mention, Higher Education Minister Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao assured M A Gafoor (CPI-M) the government was taking steps to ensure the staff of aided institutions get salaries on the first of every month.

Mr Gafoor said due to the ban the managements of Aided Colleges were unable to fill up vacancies, resulting in shortage of teaching staff.

''While the rich go to corporate educational institutions it is the students of SC, ST, BC and minority communities who suffer as most of the aided institutions do not have sufficient teaching staff'', he said.

Stating the GO was issued during the erstwhile TDP regime, the Minister said the government had no intention to withdraw it. He said the government was trying to bring financial discipline among these colleges.

CPI(M) Floor Leader Nomula Narasimhaiah alleged the ban was one of the conditions of the World Bank. He said the governmennt was neglecting the interests of the SCs, STs and minorities and announced his party's walk out adding the government would be cursed by Goddess Saraswati.

Even as the members were walking out, Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah jokingly said it was surprising that the Communist leader had developed faith in God and went to the extent of cursing the government.

UNI