: The privilege notice served against YSR Congress MLA R.K. Roja for allegedly making abusive remarks against a Telugu Desam Party legislator appears to be heading for an amicable resolution.
The film actor-turned-politician appeared before the Privileges Committee of the Assembly on the notice served by TDP MLA V. Anitha.
The YSRC MLA is understood to have given a detailed explanation to the Privileges Committee headed by Gollapalli Surya Rao on her version of the happenings on December 18 last.
Mr. Surya Rao later said that the committee had taken on record the statement made by Ms. Roja.
Report soon
The issue would be studied in detail and a report would be submitted to Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao soon.
Though Mr. Surya Rao declined comment about the future course of action as the Privileges Committee had its own limitations and it had to work under certain guidelines, a majority of the panel members were learnt to be inclined to take a lenient view as she had expressed willingness to withdraw the remarks.
The Assembly witnessed acrimonious scenes over the abusive comments reportedly made by Ms. Roja against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, his Cabinet colleagues and some TDP legislators.
The Assembly subsequently passed a resolution suspending Ms. Roja from the service of the House for one year.
Ms. Anitha moved a privilege motion against Ms. Roja a couple of days later alleging that she had made comments against her which were tantamount to character assassination. Even as Ms. Roja filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the House’s decision, the privileges panel summoned Ms. Roja on Wednesday to seek her version.
In her explanation, spanning over an hour, Ms. Roja is learnt to have stood firm on her stand that she had not made any derogatory remarks against Ms. Anitha.
‘Selective leaks’
Ms. Roja explained the panel that she had nothing against Ms. Anitha and the latter was being used by the ruling party members to target her as she was championing women’s causes in the Assembly. But she expressed willingness to withdraw her remarks in case they had hurt somebody. Ms. Roja is understood to have explained the panel members about the comments made by senior TDP MLAs which, however, have not been taken into consideration by the Privileges Committee.
She was learnt to have expressed suspicion that there was a planned effort under way to frame her as was evident from the manner in which clippings pertaining to the proceedings of the House were selectively leaked.
