Close to 30 legislators from both Houses of the Telangana Legislature, barring the MIM, were suspended on Monday for the remainder of the monsoon session after they persisted with their demand for a firm commitment from the TRS Government on a one-time settlement of the farm loan.
On a day of high voltage action in the Legislature, the entire Opposition came together and vowed to take on the Government till it conceded the main demand of loan waiver in one go.
The Opposition parties gave a call for State bandh on October 10, while the Congress chose to embark on a “rythu bharosa yatra” to give confidence to the farming community.
Proceedings began on a stormy note in Legislative Assembly and the Council as well with the Opposition members insisting on their demand. The Opposition members stalled the proceedings for some time.
In the Assembly, Congress member D.K. Aruna raised the issue even as the Civil Supplies Minister G. Jagadishwar Reddy got up to reply to a question on Deepam gas scheme.
Congress and TDP members raised slogans and approached the Speaker’s podium, shouting slogans. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said two full days were devoted to discuss farmers’ suicides and loan waiver. About 10.17 a.m., Marshals trooped in and, amid high drama, those suspended were evicted.
The only Members whose names were not read out by the Speaker S. Madhusudhanachari were that of K. Jana Reddy and J. Geeta Reddy (Cong) and Errabelli Dayakar Rao (Telugu Desam).
Similar scene in Council
The same scene was repeated in the Council too with five Congress members, including Leader of Opposition Md. Ali Shabbir, and the lone BJP member N. Ramachandra Rao being suspended.
When Congress member Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy and others moved an adjournment motion on failure of Government to give concrete assurance on farm loan waiver, it was rejected by the Chairman K. Swamy Goud leading to Congress MLCs rushing to the Well of the House.
Amidst the din, the House was adjourned for 10 minutes. When the Question Hour was resumed, the opposition members stayed away for a while and entered the House only to resume their protest in the well of the House.
As they continued their protest despite appeal from Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari, the Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao moved the motion for suspension. Subsequently, five Congress and a lone BJP MLCs were suspended.
After the suspension the Opposition members staged a demonstration outside the Assembly.
