Suspended Telangana Congress Legislators Slam TRS

Condemning the suspension of members in the Telangana Assembly by Legislative Affairs Minister T Harish Rao and the Speaker on Saturday, the Opposition came down heavily on the TRS government describing it as a dictatorial regime.

Speaking to the media on the Assembly premises, TDP member A Revanth Reddy, who was one of the suspended MLAs, said, "Suspension of the Opposition members is highly condemnable in a democracy. We did not get the mike despite pleading, and hence we had to raise our voice and approach the Chair."

He also alleged that the Speaker was not protecting the rights of the members and appeared to be supporting the treasury benches. He warned that if necessary, his Party would move a privilege motion and also a no-confidence motion in consultation with other Opposition parties.

Talking to the media after his suspension, Congress MLA Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka alleged that their suspension was against the principles of democracy. He explained that he was also suspended though he was not in the podium. The Speaker should have seen the video footage, he added.

Speaking later, BJP leader G Kishan Reddy said that Speaker was right in suspending unruly members who raised the issue of Party defections when the subject matter was not that.

When the Speaker said that the issue was under consideration, the members should have waited till a final decision was delivered.

Although the Speaker had the responsibility to protect the decorum of the House, and a decision should be taken on the issue of defectors at the earliest, he added.