BJP MLA M Raghunandan Rao today termed March 7, on which day the three BJP MLAs of the state Assembly were suspended, as a Black Day for Democracy.
Targeting Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Rao said that it was unfortunate that the Speaker did not take into consideration the orders of the Telangana High Court on their suspension.
Stating that the MLAs had called on the Speaker as per the orders of the High Court today, he said that the Speaker told them that he would not change his decision on their suspension.
He said that the three of them had only attended the first day of the budget session wearing black flags, which were not prohibited items. He claimed that they had not violated the discipline of the House, and that yet the Speaker, who was supposed to protect the rights of the members of the House, did not do so.
He said that the MLAs considered the decision of the Speaker as undemocratic, and alleged that they were suspended from the House to prevent them from raising their voices in the Assembly.
Another party MLA Eatala Rajender said that the party would hold a dharna at Indira Park on March 17 to protest the MLAs' suspension from the House.
He also said that the MLAs would soon approach the Supreme Court against the decision of the Assembly Speaker.