Heated words rock Assembly

‘I should be furious,’ Speaker tells Harish Rao

metro india news I hyderabad

Heated arguments broke out in the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Tuesday for the second consecutive day over the incidents reported on the Assembly premises on Monday morning.

The proceedings turned tense when Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar expressed strong displeasure at BRS MLA T. Harish Rao, telling him, “It is not you, but I who should be furious.”

As the Assembly began its second day of proceedings, BRS members entered the House wearing black badges in protest. Senior BRS leader Harish Rao alleged that no action had been taken against police personnel who allegedly misbehaved with senior women legislators Sabitha Indra Reddy and Sunitha Laxma Reddy.

Harish Rao said that instead of acting against those allegedly involved in the incident, police had registered cases against the legislators after they lodged a complaint. He described the incident as an insult to women across Telangana.

Intervening in the debate, Speaker Prasad Kumar took strong exception to Harish Rao’s remarks. He said the House and he personally held women members in high regard and questioned the need for Harish Rao to display such anger.

“It is not you, but I who should be furious. They did not insult your mother; they insulted mine,” the Speaker said, becoming emotional.

Prasad Kumar said he regarded Sabitha Indra Reddy, Sunitha Laxma Reddy and Kova Lakshmi as his sisters, along with his eight biological sisters. He assured the House that strict action would be taken once the report on the alleged high-handed behaviour towards the women members was received.

Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu criticised the BRS members, alleging that their conduct amounted to intimidating the Chair. He said he had never witnessed such behaviour towards a presiding officer and stressed that the House could not function in an atmosphere of intimidation.

“It is the responsibility of BRS leaders to condemn comments that demean the Speaker,” Sridhar Babu said. Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar also condemned the Opposition, alleging that BRS members were indulging in political posturing instead of apologising for the alleged inappropriate remarks against the Speaker.