Terming their actions as unruly, unjustified and uncalled for, Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar on Friday ordered the suspension of 5 MLAs for 7 days, holding them responsible for
the chaos that ruled on the opening day of the Assembly budget session on Friday.
The MLAs - Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Deputy Floor Leader T Harish Rao, his party colleagues Vidyasagar and K Samaiah, Telugu Desam Party's Revanth Reddy and Mahender Reddy - were suspended for failing to to follow the high standards of public life that legislators are expected to. Announcing the suspension, Manohar said, "Members have to rise above their petty issues and safeguard the dignity of the House."
He said that severe action was warranted against the members who misbehaved. The Deputy Speaker added that it was the responsibility of every member to uphold the values of the House.
The MLAs had sought to disrupt Governor ESL Narasimhan's address to the joint sitting of the Assembly and the Legislative Council on Thursday to the extent of uprooting the microphones on the lectern and toppling over the Governor's chair. They had even tried to physically move the Governor from the podium to stop him from continuing his address.
Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu on Friday moved the proposal seeking the MLAs' suspension which was accepted by the Deputy Speaker.
Uproarious scenes were witnessed as soon as the Deputy Speaker made the announcement of suspension. The announcement led to the TRS and some members of the TDP objecting to the decision.
This prompted Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to try and pacify the two parties that the decision to suspend the MLAs was not against any individual or parties, but was punishment for violating the rules and regulations of the House.
The CM emphasised that the action was necessary as the decorum of the legislature was violated due to the unprecedented acts by the 5 MLAs.
However, the 5 MLAs refused to accept the punishment, and also refused to leave the Assembly Hall.
After repeated requests by Manohar to leave went unheeded, he announced that the House was adjourned till Monday.
Courtesy: INN