Botcha defends Ambati’s remarks against Kodela

‘No disrespect intended against the Speaker’

Botcha Satyanarayana

YSR Congress Party leader Botcha Satyanarayana has defended the remarks made by party leader Ambati Rambabu against Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao.

At a media conference here on Wednesday, Mr. Satyanarayana said Mr. Rambabu was aware of the fact that the Speaker’s office was above politics and he did not mean any disrespect to the high office.

“But unfortunately, the Speaker himself is indulging in politics. Mr. Rambabu’s remarks should be viewed as those directed against his political opponent and not against the Speaker,” he said.

“The Speaker should rise above party politics and uphold the dignity of the high office in order to command respect,” he added.

“Mr. Sivaprasada Rao had defeated Mr. Rambabu in a close contest in the 2014 elections in Sattenapalli constituency of Guntur district,” he said.

‘Norms violated’

“Therefore, it is not proper on the part of the TDP leaders to insist on a privilege motion against Mr. Rambabu,” Mr. Satyanarayana added.

The TDP government was violating all democratic norms, offering ministerial post to those who had defected from the YSRCP and making it impossible for the Opposition to attend the Assembly, he alleged.

‘Waste of money’

The recent AgTech Summit and the two Partnership Summits organised in the city earlier were a waste of public money, he said.

Bhogapuram airport

Mr. Satyanarayana alleged that the government was making efforts to get the contract for the Bhogapuram airport awarded to a private company instead of the Airports Authority of India.

“Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju owes an explanation on the issue,” he said.