Congress Leaders Demand Action Against BRS MLCs Over Remarks on Speaker

A political row has erupted in Telangana after two Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLCs were accused of making objectionable and abusive comments against the Assembly Speaker near the legislature entrance on Monday. Several Congress legislators and ministers have condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the members.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka told the Assembly on Tuesday that the Speaker's office embodies the dignity and liberty of the House and the state. He argued that any remarks against the Speaker amount to contempt of the legislature. He further alleged that the BRS legislators were acting on a plan hatched at the Erravelli farmhouse on September 6, holding the party's leadership responsible.

Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha moved a resolution seeking action against MLCs Tata Madhusudhan and N. Naveen Kumar Reddy. He stated that BRS president and Leader of the Opposition K. Chandrasekhar Rao should take responsibility and offer an unconditional apology to the Speaker on behalf of his party.

AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi suggested a resolution to the Legislative Council Chairman for suspending the BRS members involved. He also raised concerns over the treatment of women BRS legislators by police on Monday, and questioned the display of photographs by treasury bench members when BRS legislators were stopped from entering the premises wearing printed black t-shirts.

Minister for Legislative Affairs D. Sridhar Babu clarified that rules framed by the previous government permit members to display photos in the House with the Speaker's permission.

CPI member K. Sambasiva Rao felt BRS seniors should have brought the erring MLCs to the Speaker's chambers to apologise. Several Congress MLAs, including N. Padmavathi Reddy, T. Rammohan Reddy, and Danam Nagender, also demanded that the Chair summon KCR to the House to apologise on behalf of his party.