TDP legislators suspended from Telangana assembly

Ten legislators of the opposition TDP were suspended on Monday from the Telangana assembly for the entire budget session for stalling the proceedings.

Speaker S. Madhusudana Chary announced the suspension of the Telugu Desam Party members after Minister for Legislative Affairs T. Harish Rao moved a resolution.

As soon as the house met, the second day of the budget session, the minister asked the members to apologise for showing disrespect to the national anthem by their unruly conduct during the governor's address to the joint session of the legislature on March 7.

The TDP members, on their part, rushed to the speaker's podium demanding action against the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislators who allegedly attacked opposition members during the governor's address.

Amid pandemonium, Harish Rao moved the resolution for suspension of the TDP members for the rest of the budget session, and it was adopted by voice vote.

Sampath Kumar of the main opposition Congress party apologised to the house but clarified that it was not a deliberate show of disrespect to the national anthem.

Earlier, a meeting of leaders of all parties called by the speaker decided that the members who showed disrespect to the national anthem should apologise.

This was decided after they saw the video footage of the governor's address.

Some opposition legislators had disrupted the proceedings by raising slogans when the national anthem was being played before and after the governor's address.

They also stood on the tables, tore the copies of the governor's speech and hurled it at him.

The leader of the opposition, K. Jana Reddy, said the entire footage should be seen and action be taken against all the members found indulging in unruly behaviour, irrespective of their party affiliation.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said even if members of his party show disrespect to the national anthem or indulge in misbehaviour, they won't be spared.

Defending suspension of the TDP members, he said if necessary more stringent action will be taken to ensure that the proceedings of the house are conducted in a smooth manner.

"We will be very tough," he said and criticised TDP members for stalling the proceedings.

Referring to threats by some TDP members that they will not allow the assembly to function, the chief minister said the government was determined to run the house, come what may.

When some opposition members expressed the view that TDP members should not have been suspended for the entire session, the TRS chief said the government would consider the issue after a couple of days.

Meanwhile, the TDP members staged a protest in the assembly premises against their suspension.