Hyderabad: Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on Tuesday expressed disappointment over BRS MLA T. Harish Rao’s response to an incident that allegedly undermined the dignity of the Speaker’s office.
Prasad Kumar said Harish Rao should have apologised over the incident. Instead, he accused the former minister of trying to divert attention from the core issue during Assembly proceedings. The Telangana Speaker Harish Rao confrontation followed tensions surrounding incidents reported on the Assembly premises.
During an informal interaction with media representatives in his Assembly chamber, Prasad Kumar said he had never witnessed such an incident during his long political career. He said the episode had also caused widespread concern across Telangana.
Telangana Speaker Harish Rao row follows Assembly incident
Prasad Kumar contrasted the present government’s approach with that of the previous BRS government led by K. Chandrashekar Rao. He said the Congress government had not acted in an authoritarian manner. Moreover, he pointed out that Opposition members had not been immediately disqualified.
The Speaker also addressed allegations involving BRS women legislators. He assured that authorities would thoroughly examine the allegations and take appropriate action.
At the same time, Prasad Kumar accused BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy and MLC Naveen Reddy of physically attacking police personnel. He said their actions on the Assembly premises were clearly visible.
Prasad Kumar also clarified the restrictions governing attire inside the Assembly. He said the government had introduced no new rules concerning slogan-bearing clothing. Instead, the Assembly was implementing rules framed in 2014 when the KCR-led BRS government was in power, he said.
Under those rules, T-shirts carrying slogans were not permitted inside the House, Prasad Kumar said. The Speaker also responded to a reference involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
He was asked about claims that Rahul had worn clothes displaying pictures of industrialist Gautam Adani in Parliament. Prasad Kumar said he had not witnessed such an incident.
Telangana Speaker Harish Rao dispute raises House dignity issue
Prasad Kumar also spoke about communication with Opposition leader KCR before the Assembly session. He said the Speaker traditionally contacted Opposition leaders as a matter of courtesy before every session.
Following that practice, Prasad Kumar said he had telephoned KCR before the current session. “KCR informed me that he would attend the session if his health permitted,” the Speaker said.
Prasad Kumar asserted that he possessed full constitutional powers to take stringent action against anyone when required. He said those powers could be exercised to safeguard the dignity and sanctity of the Legislative Assembly.
The Speaker also announced that Tuesday’s Assembly proceedings would be conducted under the chairmanship of Panel Speaker Kadiyam Srihari.