Updated: Furore in Telangana Assembly over Formula-E case against KTR

The session started with BRS MLAs urging the Speaker to address the Formula-E issue before discussing the Bhu Bharati Bill. Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao took the opportunity to criticize the Congress government for making unfounded corruption allegations against former Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao and the previous BRS government. "If the government is sincere and courageous, let’s have an open discussion and let the facts come out," he stated.

Hyderabad: The Telangana Assembly witnessed chaos on Friday as BRS MLAs demanded a discussion on allegations surrounding the Formula-E car race. Both treasury and opposition benches engaged in sloganeering and disrupting proceedings, forcing Speaker Gaddam Prasad to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.

The session began with BRS MLAs urging the Speaker to hold a discussion on the Formula-E issue before moving to the Bhu Bharati Bill placed for discussion. Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao criticised the Congress government for making baseless corruption allegations against former Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao and the previous BRS government.
“If the government has sincerity and courage, let us have an open discussion. Let the facts come out,” he said.

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Harish Rao defended Rama Rao’s decision to host the Formula-E event, emphasising its aim to boost Telangana‘s economy and global reputation. He charged the Congress government with using false cases to distract attention from its unfulfilled promises and issues like the arrest of Lagacherla farmers.

The Speaker maintained that the Formula-E issue involved an individual, whereas the Bhu Bharati Bill had Statewide relevance. Heated arguments followed, with BRS MLAs demanding an assurance on when the topic would be debated.

With the Revenue Minister initiating discussion on the Bill, BRS legislators continued raising slogans. Opposition Congress MLAs countered with protests against Rama Rao and the previous BRS government, leading to further disruptions and to adjournment.

Speaking to mediapersons, the BRS MLAs stated that Congress MLA Veernapally Shankar had thrown papers and hurled water bottle at the opposition MLAs protesting before the Speaker’s podium. “He had also shown his shoe to one of our Dalit MLAs in the Assembly. He must be booked under an SC/ST attrocities case,” MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy said.

Another BRS MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy said the papers were thrown, shoe was shown, and abuses were hurled at the BRS MLAs. He said immediately after shoe was shown, the Speaker adjourned the House. “The Congress MLAs are trying to incite violence and evict the opposition MLAs. While Rahul Gandhi is attacking fellow Parliamentarians in Lok Sabha, the Congress MLAs are throwing water bottles and showing shoe at their opposition MLAs. The government should release the video footage,” he demanded.

Though the session resumed after about an hour, the BRS MLAs continued their protests at the Speaker’s podium, demanding withdrawl of the case against KT Rama Rao and also hold a discussion on the issue in the House.

Legislative Affairs Minister Sridhar Babu clarified that issues not included in the BAC agenda could not be taken up for discussion, further fuelling tensions. A scuffle broke out as marshals tried to intervene, and some members threw papers at the Speaker, escalating the disruption. The House was adjourned once again till afternoon.

Earlier, BRS MLAs submitted an adjournment motion, urging the Speaker to allow a discussion on the Formula-E controversy. Wearing black badges and holding placards, they staged a demonstration outside the BRS Legislative Party office to mark their protest against the false case filed against Rama Rao.