Jagadish Reddy’s suspension: Harish Rao questions Uttam Kumar Reddy’s double standards

Says the Irrigation Minister's demand for strict action against the BRS MLA in the House reflects his vindictive actions

Hyderabad: Former Minister T Harish Rao said on Thursday that Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy owed an apology for misleading the Assembly on Thursday.

Stating that Uttam Kumar Reddy was concealing crucial information and displaying double standards in his political stance, he pointed out that the Minister’s demand for strict action against BRS MLA G Jagadish Reddy in the House reflected his vindictive and intentional actions. He pointed out the stark contrast in Reddy’s stance when in opposition and now in power.

---

Recalling that Reddy was a member of the Parliament Ethics Committee when Mahua Moitra, a Lok Sabha member, was expelled, Harish Rao said that in his dissent note, Uttam Kumar Reddy had stated that Moitra’s expulsion was a result of personal vendetta and retaliatory actions. He had opposed the expulsion, calling it unjust and unconstitutional.

Harish Rao further stated that in 2018, during a protest during the budget session, Congress MLAs Sampath Kumar and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy were expelled from the House. At that time, Uttam Kumar Reddy, as TPCC chief, had condemned the expulsion as a wrongful act and had announced plans to file a complaint with the President. Reddy had also accused the then Speaker and the Chief Minister of not performing their duties properly.

“How can something that seemed wrong previously become right now, Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy?” Harish Rao asked, emphasising the inconsistency in Reddy’s stance.