Speaker's Verdict On Defecting MLAs Shocking: KTR

BRS working president K T Rama Rao today strongly condemned the Telangana Assembly Speaker's decision on the disqualification petitions against defecting BRS MLAs, calling it highly undemocratic and shocking.

Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar had earlier in the day dismissed the disqualification petitions filed by the BRS against Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender and Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari, after dismissing petitions against eight other defecting MLAs earlier.

Referring to Danam Nagender, the BRS working president asked how an MLA who had won on a BRS B-Form could contest as a Congress candidate for Parliament without resigning from the Assembly, and still escape disqualification.

"An MLA who won on one party's B-Form contests as an MP candidate on another party's B-Form without resigning. All the evidence is already in the public domain. Election Commission records clearly show which B-Form the MLA used to contest the Assembly election and which B-Form he is now using to contest for Parliament. What further inquiry is needed? Despite such clear evidence, the Speaker refuses to disqualify him. This is nothing short of political manipulation," he said.

He said that rarely had a Speaker delivered such a controversial decision in the history of independent India, and alleged that the decision represented a direct assault on democracy and the Constitution of India.

KTR also claimed that the principal architect behind this unethical move was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He claimed that the Speaker had virtually no independence in the matter and that the decision was taken under tremendous pressure from Rahul Gandhi.

"The main perpetrator and the criminal mind behind this decision is Rahul Gandhi. He is the real culprit. Without his permission and approval, the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly would never have dared to take such a shocking decision," KTR claimed.

He also alleged that Rahul Gandhi was encouraging such unethical political activities for the sake of massive money flows from the State, describing the developments as part of a politically motivated operation.

KTR questioned the moral authority of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress to speak about defections. "Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have absolutely no moral right to lecture anyone about political defections. On one hand Rahul Gandhi carries the Constitution and claims to be its protector. On the other hand his party is enabling defections and protecting defectors," he said.

K T Rama Rao also criticised Rahul Gandhi for speaking about automatic disqualification in cases of defection during his speeches in Telangana and for promoting the 'Nyay Patra', while allegedly allowing the Congress government to protect defectors.

KTR also responded to comments made by certain leaders on the issue, and said that it was ironic to hear lectures about defections from individuals who themselves had benefited from political opportunities within the BRS in the past.

The BRS working president said that the people of Telangana were watching these developments carefully and would ultimately give a strong democratic response to "political hypocrisy and manipulation".