Hyderabad: In a significant escalation of the row over alleged remarks against assembly speaker G Prasad Kumar, legislative council chairperson Gutha Sukhender Reddy on Tuesday suspended BRS MLCs Tata Madhusudhan and N Naveen Kumar Reddy for the remainder of the ongoing monsoon session.The action came after legislative affairs minister D Sridhar Babu moved a resolution in the council seeking action against the two members under Rule 308(2)(2) of the Telangana Legislative Council Rules. The rule empowers the chairperson to name a member who disregards the authority of the chair or wilfully obstructs the business of the House, following which a motion can be adopted to suspend the member for a specified period, including the remainder of a session.Earlier in the evening, the assembly adopted a resolution condemning the alleged remarks made by the two MLCs against the speaker and recommending action against them. The resolution, moved by health minister Damodar Raja Narasimha, received support from ministers and legislators across the treasury benches. Acting on the assembly’s recommendation, the council chairperson announced the suspension of the two members.Soon after the decision was announced and the House adjourned, BRS members staged a dharna outside the chairperson‘s chamber, raising slogans against the Congress govt. Marshals later escorted the protesting MLCs from the premises.The assembly resolution strongly condemned what it described as “highly insulting, derogatory and abusive remarks” made by the two MLCs against the speaker on Monday.“The House registers its protest against such remarks, which are contrary to the dignity and decorum of the House,” the resolution stated. The resolution also criticised the conduct of the two leaders, alleging that they removed their shirts in the presence of women and behaved in a manner that brought disrepute to the institution.“This House resolves that the Leader of the Opposition, K Chandrasekhar Rao, should take responsibility for the inappropriate conduct of the members of his party and tender an unconditional apology to the speaker in order to uphold the dignity and decorum of this House,” it said.Since the two legislators are members of the council, the assembly further resolved to forward a copy of the resolution, along with evidence, notices relating to breach of privilege and details of the proceedings, to the council chairperson for appropriate action.The issue dominated proceedings in both Houses during the day, with members from various parties condemning the alleged conduct of the two legislators.Defending his party, BRS floor leader in the council S Madhusudhana Chary accused the govt of acting unilaterally. He argued that the Congress did not have a majority in the council and alleged that the suspension was aimed at silencing the opposition.Chary also alleged that the chairperson had adjourned the House for six hours but concluded proceedings within minutes after reconvening, without allowing a detailed debate on the matter.Participating in the discussion, deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka described the alleged remarks against the speaker as evidence of the BRS’s “arrogant and feudal mindset“. He alleged that there was a “farmhouse conspiracy” behind attempts to undermine the legislature.“Monday’s incident was an indelible blot on democracy. It was not merely an insult to an individual, but a grave insult to the entire legislature. The person occupying the office of the speaker is a symbol of the dignity, freedom, and democratic functioning of the House,” he said.Bhatti further claimed that a BRS legislature party meeting held at a farmhouse a day before the assembly session was part of a larger plan to target democratic institutions, alleging that some members acted according to a pre-planned strategy directed by the party leadership.
Source link
