NEWS

32 TDP legislators suspended from assembly

By Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
February 22, 2005 11:00 IST

Andhra Pradesh assembly Speaker K R Suresh Reddy on Tuesday morning suspended 32 Telugu Desam Party members from the House for 10 working days.

They had stalled the proceedings of the House for almost 90 minutes, demanding a discussion on the murder of TDP legislator Paritala Ravi.

The trouble started as soon as the House assembled at 0830 IST.

The speaker disallowed adjournment motions tabled by various parties, including one on the MLA's killing.

The TDP members were immediately on their feet, demanding that the speaker suspend Question Hour and take up their motion.

Repeated assurances from the speaker that the matter would be discussed later in the day fell on deaf ears.

Floor leaders of other parties also suggested that the issue be taken up after Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy's reply to the debate on the motion of thanks on the governor's address. The BJP, however, supported the TDP.

TDP members Y Ramakrishnudu and T Devender Goud insisted that the murder be discussed. Ramakrishnudu alleged it was a "government-sponsored murder".

Goud said that the name of the CM's son was there in the first information report relating to the killing.

Legislative Affairs Minister K Rosaiah said the government was ready to have a discussion on the issue after the CM's reply.

Rosaiah and other Congress members were on their feet when TDP member Janardhan Reddy, who was denied the mike, said something objectionable. Rosaiah demanded an unconditional apology from the member. The speaker also asked him to express regrets.

But when he did not say sorry, the Rosaiah moved a motion for suspension of the member from the House for 10 working days. After the House voted the motion, the speaker asked the member to withdraw from the House.

At this stage, the other TDP members began raising slogans and some of them rushed to the podium and began arguing with the speaker. Amidst unruly scenes, the speaker adjourned the House for 20 minutes.

After the House reassembled, the TDP members continued their protest and mobbed the podium. When his pleas to them to resume their seats failed, the speaker asked Rosaiah to move a motion for suspension of the members for obstructing the proceedings.

The minister then moved the motion for suspension of 31 other TDP members. The speaker asked the suspended members to withdraw from the House. But when they refused to leave, marshals were called in to evict them.

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

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