BJP urges Speaker to lift suspension on TDP leaders

Hyderabad, Nov 15: Telangana Legislative Assembly witnessed heated discussions between Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and Telangana Rashtra Samiti ministers during Zero Hour on Saturday on the lifting of the suspension on Telugu Desam Party MLAs. Telangana BJP floor leader K Laxman on Saturday urged Legislative Assembly Speaker Madhusudhana Chary to lift the suspension on the 10 TDP leaders. Intervening in the discussion, Legislative Affairs Minister Harish Rao said the issue can be amicably resolved and the suspension can be lifted if the erring TDP leader tenders an apology to the Assembly. Harish Rao went on to say that the government was always ready for healthy discussion in the assembly. He then asked whether it was advisable to support those who are speaking against interests of the state of Telangana. Reacting to the minister's statement, BJP leader Kishan Reddy accused Harish Rao for diverting the issue. He said TDP leader Revanth Reddy did not make any derogatory statements against any of the MLAs in the assembly. Kishan Reddy then asked the government to clarify under which section of the legislative rules the TDP leaders were suspended. He then requested the Speaker to protect the rights of the MLAs. Following which a verbal dual ensued between the TRS and BJP legislators in the Assembly. Intervening in the discussion at this stage, Congress leader Mallu Bhati Vikramarka said Revanth Reddy and his colleagues were suspended from the Assembly only for making comments on TRS's Nizamabad MP Kavita. He also demanded the government to clarify as to under which rule the TDP leaders were suspended. Replying to this, Minister Harish Rao said the Assembly felt that Revanth Reddy should withdraw his comments on MP Kavita. He then said though the Speaker had repeatedly given opportunities to the TDP leader to withdraw his comments, Revanth Reddy did not use those opportunities. He then said that TDP leaders had spoken against the interests of the state during discussions on power generation and farmers and then went on to disrupt the proceedings of the assembly. The Minister said the government had no other option but to recommend the suspension of the TDP leaders.