YSR Congress MLAs on Thursday tendered apology to Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao putting an end to the row over privilege motion moved against them by the Telugu Desam for making derogatory comments on Mr. Rao on March 19.
Of nine members against whom the privilege notice was served, barring Sivaprasada Reddy, who was not present, eight members Kodali Venkateswara Rao, P. Anil, K. Sridhar Reddy, Srikant Reddy, Roja, Chevireddi Bhaskar Reddy, P. Ramakrishna Reddy and B.Mutyalanaidu individually apologised for their behaviour and said it was done in an emotionally surcharged atmosphere. This was done when the House took up discussion over the notice served by TDP member Anitha.
Mr. Sivaprasada Rao accepted their apology and said there was no better punishment than repentance. “Let us conduct the House with dignity,” he said. Reminding them that their words, behaviour and body language were watched by crores of people, he said how effectively one spoke was important than how forcefully they spoke. On the proposed no confidence motion against him, he said it was the Opposition’s right and it was up to them.
Earlier after the Speaker allowed Ms. Anitha to start the discussion on privilege notice, Leader of Opposition Y.S.Jaganmohan Reddy said he on behalf of all the members tendered unconditional apology if they had used any uncharitable words which pained the Speaker.
Ms. Anitha recalled the instance when TDP MLA Karanam Balaramakrishna Murthy was suspended from the Assembly for six months when he made a derogatory remark against the then Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy at Adoni during Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure as the Chief Minister. But should not the YSR Congress members who surrounded the podium and hurled abuses against the Chair in the House be awarded severe punishment, she asked.
Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy recalled the instance when Speaker Kuthuhalamma expressed her anguish at the remarks of the then Opposition leader N.Chandrababu Naidu but he had never apologised.
Dismissing it as untrue, Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said the House should not be distracted from the notice against YSR Congress members.
