HYDERABAD: The Monsoon Session of the state Legislature began with chaos outside the Assembly premises and emotional scenes inside the House after a protest by the BRS at the main gate. The protest led to a confrontation with the police, alleged use of derogatory language by BRS MLC Tata Madhusudhan against Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar and BRS MLA Sunitha Laxma Reddy alleging that police personnel pulled her saree.
The incident occurred when BRS MLAs and MLCs, wearing black T-shirts on which slogans against the government were printed, were stopped by the police from entering the Assembly premises. The police said the objectionable slogans printed on the T-shirts were the reason for preventing the legislators from entering.
The move led to a scuffle between the BRS legislators and police. During the jostling, Madhu was pulled back by the police, following which he reportedly used abusive language against the Speaker.
Sunitha Laxma Reddy, meanwhile, alleged that police personnel pulled her saree, while P Sabitha Indra Reddy was allegedly pulled by her hair. The BRS later alleged that several of its legislators, including working president KT Rama Rao, G Jagadish Reddy and MLC Yadava Reddy, were injured in the melee and were treated by doctors at Telangana Bhavan, the BRS headquarters.
The developments outside the Assembly soon spilled into the House, where Congress members condemned Madhu’s alleged remarks against the Speaker and demanded action against him. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy demanded an apology from BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao and sought Madhu’s permanent expulsion from the Council.
“I felt very sad and wanted a debate on the language being used in the House. But, surprisingly, the BRS MLC used abusive language against the Speaker and even cast aspersions on his mother,” he said.
The chief minister told the House that Madhu’s remarks had hurt Telangana society and described the incident as a “dark day for democracy”. Responding to concerns raised by Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, he said upholding the dignity of the House was everyone’s responsibility. He said the issue was not limited to Gaddam Prasad but concerned the entire Telangana society.
“I have never heard such comments against a Speaker in any state since Independence,” Revanth said. He recalled that the Congress had made a Dalit the Assembly Speaker while the previous BRS regime had removed a Dalit leader from the post of deputy CM.
Assembly to adopt resolution against Madhu; BRS issues whip to its MLCs
The Assembly is expected to adopt a resolution against Madhu on Tuesday and forward it to Council chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy for further action. The BRS issued a whip to its MLCs to attend Tuesday’s Council meeting without fail and vote in favour of the party if voting is held.
During the discussion, Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) objected to Madhu’s comments against the Speaker and his mother.
The Speaker became emotional at this juncture and was seen wiping his tears. Madhu later clarified his remarks were directed at the police and not the Speaker.
The BRS MLC, however, apologised if his comments had hurt the Speaker.
‘Dussasana Parvam’
Sunitha Laxma Reddy described the police action as “Dussasana Parvam” and a black day for democracy.
Rama Rao demanded that the chief minister apologise to the women MLAs.
The BRS also lodged a complaint with the SC and ST Commission alleging high-handedness by the police against its SC and ST legislators. BJP Legislature Party leader A Maheswar Reddy also demanded Madhu’s expulsion and an apology from Chandrasekhar Rao.
Madhu was elected as an MLC from the Local Authorities Constituency of Khammam district on January 5, 2022, and his term ends on January 4, 2028.
Police officials on duty said there was no restriction on legislators wearing black T-shirts. They said the BRS T-shirts, however, carried “objectionable” slogans against the government and that this was why the legislators were stopped from entering the Assembly.