Telangana Assembly adjourned amid uproar over police assault on women MLAs

The Telangana Assembly was adjourned after heated exchanges between BRS and Congress members over alleged police assault on women MLAs. BRS demanded an apology from the government, while the treasury benches insisted Opposition leader K Chandrasekhar Rao apologise to the Speaker.

Hyderabad: The Telangana Assembly was adjourned on Tuesday as the Opposition and treasury benches continued to argue over Monday’s developments.

The BRS members, sporting black badges, moved into the well demanding an unconditional apology from the Government for the police high-handed behaviour on Monday, while the treasury benches insisted that the Leader of the Opposition K Chandrashekhar Rao come to the House and apologise to the Chair for the remarks made by a BRS MLC.

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Soon after the House commenced the proceedings, BRS Deputy Floor Leader T Harish Rao sprang to his feet and demanded an apology from the government for the assault on BRS MLAs Sabitha Indra Reddy and Sunitha Laxma Reddy. The BRS members were in full attendance, while the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was not present in the House.

Harish Rao drew the attention of the House to the registration of cases against Sabitha Indra Reddy and Sunitha Laxma Reddy, despite them being attacked by the police. “This is not an attack on just two MLAs but on the entire womenfolk in the State. This is not right,” Harish Rao argued.

His comments elicited an immediate response from the Chair with the Speaker Prasad Kumar asserting that he had immense respect towards the women MLAs. “I sought a report from the police over the attack on the two women MLAs,” he informed.

Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu intervened to say that the government had also sought a report on the incident and assured that action would be taken accordingly. SC, ST Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman demanded that BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao should come to the House and tender an unconditional apology for BRS MLC comments against the Speaker.

Panchayat Raj Minister D Seethakka charged that BRS leaders had deliberately pushed the two women MLAs before the police and strategically stood behind them. “The two women MLAs should also introspect,” she said.

Amidst these charges, Harish Rao reminded that the BRS MLC had withdrawn his comments and regretted his action. The police have already booked cases against him and taken him to the police station, he said.

“We have immense respect for the Chair and personally towards you. But what action has been taken against the police for their overzealous action against women MLAs. The government should apologise,” Harish Rao told the Speaker.

As the BRS MLAs were demanding an apology from the government, the Chief Marshal went to each BRS member and took away placards from them. In the middle of this, BJP Floor Leader A Maheswar Reddy demanded a debate on 22 A row. The BJP MLAs holding placards squatted on the floor.

He wanted the Congress government to apologize to the women MLAs and also said BRS should reciprocate for its MLC’s comments against the Speaker.

Amidst this, the BRS MLAs led by Harish Rao approached the podium. A heavy marshal force obstructed them and in the middle of this melee, the Speaker announced that the House had been adjourned for 15 minutes.