Telangana lawmakers disrupting governor's address to be suspended

Legislators disrupting the governor's address in Telangana legislature will be suspended from the assembly for one year, the assembly rules committee decided at its meeting here on Monday.

The committee decided to deal firmly with the legislators disrupting the governor's address on the first day of the budget session, beginning on March 10.

It was also decided not to allow any protest during question hour. The members will not be allowed to bring placards in the house.

The meeting was attended by Legislative Affairs Minister Harish Rao, Deputy Speaker Padma Devender Reddy and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the MIM.

Last year, 10 members of opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were suspended for the entire budget session after they refused to apologise for their unruly conduct during the governor's address on the first day of the budget session.

Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had alleged that the TDP members showed disrespect to the national anthem by creating ruckus during the governor's address.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress party has criticised the decision of the rules committee. Party legislator D.K. Aruna alleged that TRS is trying to muzzle the voice of opposition.

Terming the move "undemocratic", she warned that the TRS government will have to face people's wrath.