Hyderabad: The Telangana Assembly row intensified for a second consecutive day on Tuesday as Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar confronted BRS MLA T. Harish Rao during heated exchanges over Monday’s incidents on the Assembly premises.
The confrontation erupted after Harish Rao accused authorities of failing to act against police personnel who allegedly misbehaved with senior BRS women legislators. Speaker Prasad Kumar strongly objected to Harish Rao’s remarks and became emotional while responding to him.
“It is not you, but I who should be furious. They did not insult your mother; they insulted mine,” the Speaker said. BRS legislators entered the House wearing black badges as proceedings began for the second day. They continued their protest over the incidents reported on Monday morning.
Telangana Assembly row centres on women legislators
Harish Rao alleged that authorities had taken no action against police personnel accused of misbehaving with Sabitha Indra Reddy and Sunitha Laxma Reddy. Instead, he alleged that police registered cases against the legislators after they lodged a complaint about the incident.
Harish Rao described the alleged treatment of the women legislators as an insult to women across Telangana. His remarks prompted a sharp intervention from the Speaker.
Prasad Kumar said both the House and he personally held women members in high regard. He also questioned why Harish Rao needed to express such anger over the matter.
The Speaker said he regarded Sabitha Indra Reddy, Sunitha Laxma Reddy and Kova Lakshmi as his sisters. He said he viewed them alongside his eight biological sisters.
Prasad Kumar assured the House that authorities would take strict action after receiving a report on the alleged high-handed behaviour towards the women legislators.
Telangana Assembly row triggers criticism of BRS
Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu criticised the conduct of BRS members during the proceedings. He alleged that their behaviour amounted to intimidating the Chair.
Sridhar Babu said he had never witnessed such conduct towards a presiding officer. Moreover, he maintained that the Assembly could not function in an atmosphere of intimidation.
“It is the responsibility of BRS leaders to condemn comments that demean the Speaker,” he said. Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar also criticised the Opposition during the Telangana Assembly row.
He alleged that BRS members had resorted to political posturing instead of apologising for the alleged inappropriate remarks against the Speaker. The exchanges marked the second consecutive day of tensions in the Assembly following Monday’s incidents on the premises.