: The Telengana Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes on Monday on the question of apology from the opposition members for showing disrespect to the national anthem during the Governor’s address on Saturday, leading to suspension of 11 Telugu Desam MLAs, including Floor Leader E. Dayakar Rao and Deputy Leader A. Revanth Reddy, for the rest of the session.
As the House resumed its sitting to take up motion of thanks to Governor’s address, the TDP MLA stormed the well, holding placards and shouting slogans demanding ministerial berths for SCs and women members in the Cabinet. In a strategic move to corner the TRS government on the issue of non-representation of Dalits, the TDP MLAs sought to stall the House.
The Legislative Affairs Minister, T. Harish Rao insisted that the TDP MLAs first tender an unconditional apology for insulting the national anthem. “Else, we might have to take severe action against erring members”, he warned. The Speaker repeatedly urged the slogan-shouting TDP members to resume their seats and even asked TDP floor leader to call back his colleagues.
Mr. Harish Rao then moved a motion to suspend 11 TDP members and it was approved. They include A. Gandhi, M. Gopinath, Kishan Reddy, M. Krishna Rao, T. Prakash Goud, S. Rajender Reddy. G. Sayanna, S. Venkata Veeraiah and K.P. Vivekanand. As they continued to shout slogans, marshals were called in to evict them. Mr. Dayakar Rao and Revanth Reddy were lifted bodily and carried out while the others walked out.
Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekar Rao, later sought to justify the action, saying the TDP members were disturbing the proceedings of the House from day one. Suspension was a very light punishment as the government would be very tough in future. If any ruling party member showed disrespect, he would also have to apologise, he warned.
Leader of the Opposition K. Jana Reddy termed Saturday’s disturbances ‘unfortunate’ and felt that those, who created ruckus should apologise.
He made his colleague Sampath Kumar tender and apology although, he maintained that there was no clarity in the footage shown to the members.
After they were suspended, the TDP members staged a sit-in outside and vowed to continue their agitation.
