BRS walks out of Assembly over Chief Minister’s remarks

BRS legislators staged a walkout from the Telangana Assembly after objecting to remarks made by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy during Question Hour while replying to queries on the Musi River Rejuvenation Project, leading to heated exchanges in the House.

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislators staged a walkout from the Telangana Assembly on Friday, protesting what they termed objectionable and derogatory remarks made by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy against Opposition members during Question Hour.

The House took up questions on the Musi River Rejuvenation Project, raised by Congress MLAs Balu Naik, Shankaraiah and Malreddy Rangareddy. Former minister T Harish Rao, AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, BJP MLA Payal Shankar and others sought clarifications through supplementary questions.

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As Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu began responding, the Chief Minister intervened, stating that he had personally reviewed the project and would address members’ concerns. He said the detailed project report (DPR) was yet to be prepared and submitted.

“Once the DPR is submitted, a presentation will be made to all MLAs, particularly those from the Greater Hyderabad region, at the Chief Minister’s Office,” Revanth Reddy said.

He informed the House that works covering 21 km, from Osmansagar to Bapu Ghat and from Himayatsagar to Bapu Ghat, along with diversion of Godavari water, would be taken up in the first phase at a cost of Rs 7,000 crore. The works would commence within three months and be completed in two years, he said.

Stating that rapid urbanisation was underway, the Chief Minister said 55 per cent of Telangana’s population lived within the Outer Ring Road (ORR). He criticised opponents for linking the project to real estate interests.

Pointing at Opposition benches, Revanth Reddy made sharp remarks, drawing immediate protests. He said some Opposition members “got venom in their stomachs, which is more dangerous than pollution” and appealed to the Speaker to send them to Vikarabad and get them admitted in a hospital for 10 days. He also urged the Chair to seek suggestions from all MLAs on rehabilitation of Musi riverbank evictees.

The BRS legislators immediately sprang to their feet to register strong protest. BRS MLA Harish Rao urged the Speaker to protect members’ rights and sought an opportunity to speak. While the Speaker permitted AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi to speak, the BRS members continued to demand an opportunity, but the Chair disallowed them.

Later, the Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu attempted to defend the Chief Minister, stating that the latter had not taken any names in his criticism. Harish Rao, reacting sharply, said the Leader of the House was expected to respond responsibly and not make derogatory remarks.

The Speaker interrupted Harish Rao and disallowed criticism of the Chief Minister, leading to heated exchanges. As protests continued and the Speaker proceeded with the next question, the BRS legislators staged a walkout.