Unapologetic Telugu Desam MLAs get suspended from Telangana Assembly

 

The legislators were suspended for protesting against the ruling TRS for not allowing them to participate in the Budget discussions until TD MLA A. Revanth Reddy apologised for his remarks against Nizamabad MP Ms K. Kavitha. 

This was after Chief Minister  K. Chandrasekhar Rao also insisted that Mr Revanth Reddy apologise for his allegations against Ms Kavitha.

 

Mandatory discussion on the Budget resumed after the Zero Hour but TRS legislators started shouting slogans as soon as Mr Revanth Reddy rose to speak. Ruling party members insisted that he apologised for his remarks that Ms Kavitha had registered in both Hyderabad and Nizamabad for the recent household survey. 

On Wednesday as well, the Assembly had been adjourned amid chaos on the same issue. 

 

Legislative affairs minister T. Harish Rao said, “We want meaningful use of time and everyone has said that he should apologise. It is a matter pertaining to all women.” Speaker  S. Madhusudhan Chary then adjourned the House for 10 minutes but it resumed after nearly two hours. Even then the tussle continued as Mr Revanth Reddy didn’t budge. 

 

Mr Chandrasekhar Rao said, “Sometimes we make some unfounded statements. Even a leader like Indira Gandhi had apologised. But it is not right to make baseless allegations. Even about the Budget they are saying that it is a KCR Family Budget. It is not acceptable. He has to apologise at any cost.” 

 

He added, “He (Revanth Reddy) quoted some figures which he said were from SRLDC. I asked him three days ago to submit them to the Speaker so we could see but he hasn’t done so till now. The government is ready for a legal battle. How can he say that Telangana is drawing more power?”

 

With the government insisting that Mr Revanth Reddy couldn’t speak without tendering an apology, TRS legislator  E. Ravinder Reddy was asked to speak on the Budget and TD lawmakers rushed to the podium for being denied the opportunity to speak in the Budget debate. 

 

Mr Harish Rao then moved a motion for eight TD MLAs who were raising slogans near the Speaker’s podium to be suspended for a week. Mr Revanth Reddy and E. Dayakar Reddy were also suspended when they too moved to the podium. Marshalls were called in to evict them forcefully after they squatted on the floor of the House protesting the suspension. 

The move, however, didn’t go down well with other opposition leaders.