Hyderabad: The first day of the Telangana Assembly's monsoon session concluded on Monday, amid protests and disruptions over key issues and furore over BRS MLC Thatha Madusudhan's alleged derogatory remarks against the Speaker, Gaddam Prasad Kumar.
He described the day as "a dark day for Telangana," saying the language used against the Speaker and his family was unpardonable.
The BJP members did not relent, though Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar appealed to them to cooperate in beginning the proceedings.
Meanwhile, high drama prevailed outside the House as BRS members, who were wearing black T-shirts, were stopped by police.
They were taken away from the place by the police in a van and dropped off at the Telangana.
Hyderabad: The first day of the Telangana Assembly's monsoon session concluded on Monday, amid protests and disruptions over key issues and furore over BRS MLC Thatha Madusudhan's alleged derogatory remarks against the Speaker, Gaddam Prasad Kumar.
Several legislators, including Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, and ministers, demanded an unconditional apology along with the member's expulsion from the House. Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu said a decision on the issue would be taken on Tuesday.
He said the Speaker's post is one of the highest offices in the legislature and must be treated with respect. What happened, he said, was not a personal attack on Gaddam Prasad Kumar as an individual, but an insult to the dignity of the Speaker's chair itself and, by extension, to the House and to the four crore people of Telangana. He described the day as "a dark day for Telangana," saying the language used against the Speaker and his family was unpardonable.
Revanth Reddy warned that if the government's restraint was being mistaken for weakness, it would not remain a silent spectator to attempts at intimidating institutions. He formally demanded, as Leader of the House, that former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao issue an apology, that the member responsible resign, and that the member's Assembly membership be revoked over the objectional remarks.
The Assembly started on a stormy note in the morning, with the House being adjourned for 15 minutes soon after the commencement of proceedings following disruption by the opposition members.
The BJP MLAs, who raised slogans, sought immediate debate on the inclusion of private lands of citizens in a prohibitive list under Section 22 A of the Registration Act, which bars registrations and other transactions.
The BJP members did not relent, though Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar appealed to them to cooperate in beginning the proceedings. Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu said the government is ready for debate on the issue but it did not help.
Meanwhile, high drama prevailed outside the House as BRS members, who were wearing black T-shirts, were stopped by police. The black T-shirts had slogans like "Congress failed to deliver on its promises". BRS MLA Sunita Laxmareddy broke down, complaining that she suffered a minor injury as police were stopping them. BRS MLA Harish Rao and others took off their shirts, protesting against police stopping them. They were taken away from the place by the police in a van and dropped off at the Telangana.
Security arrangements were strengthened around the Assembly premises, with police personnel deployed at key entry and exit points and other sensitive locations in anticipation of the BJP and BRS leaders' protests.
