HYDERABAD:In a new twist amid ongoing protest by the YSRC against the removal of former chief minister the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s photo from the Assembly lobbies, Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao not only defended the move but also said an inquiry would be ordered to bring to book those responsible for putting the photo there in the first place, which was against the rules and tradition.
Giving a ruling during zero hour in the House on Wednesday here, the Speaker said as per rule only the photos of Speakers are allowed to be kept in the Assembly lobbies and not that of former chief ministers.
“We have done nothing against the rule. Former chief ministers photos are kept in the community hall that too of a few. This would also be done only after Assembly’s General Purpose Committee approves it. Even Telangana government has removed photos of leaders belonging to AP from the community halls allotted to them in the Assembly,” he pointed out.
Sivaprasada Rao clarified that the photo of YSR was installed against the rules and traditions of Assembly and hence it was removed and not because the departed leader belonged to the opposition party. “We removed YSR’s photo without informing members as repair work was going on in the lobbies earlier,” he explained.
Countering Congress MP KVP Ramachandra Rao’s allegations, the Speaker said the government had taken action as per the law and there is no hidden motive behind it.