Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former Telangana Minister G Jagadish Reddy was suspended from the Assembly for the rest of the ongoing Budget session over his remarks while disagreeing with Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. His remarks sparked a furore in the House on March 13, with the ruling Congress insisting that he should apologise for allegedly insulting the Dalit leader.
The trouble began during a discussion on the motion of thanks for the Governor’s address. During a disagreement with the Speaker, Jagadish Reddy said that the House belongs to all and that all members have equal rights. "You are sitting as the Speaker on behalf of all of us. This House doesn’t belong to you alone," said the BRS MLA, evoking strong protests from the treasury benches.
The Speaker also found fault with Jagadish Reddy’s remarks and said he spoke against the traditions of the house.
The House witnessed sharp exchanges between the members of the ruling Congress and the main opposition party BRS over the issue. The BRS maintained that Jagadish Reddy said nothing wrong and turned down the demand for an apology.
Amid the pandemonium over the issue, the Speaker adjourned the House.
The Congress MLAs also found fault with Jagadish Reddy for addressing the Speaker in singular. Terming the remarks as insulting, Minister for Legislative Affairs D Sridhar Babu said the BRS member should take back all his words and apologise to the Speaker.
Congress member Adluri Lakshman demanded that Jagadish Reddy should apologise to the entire Dalit community.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy also condemned the remarks made by Jagdish Reddy. He said speaking insulting words about the Speaker was not acceptable.
Minister for Women and Child Welfare Seethakka said that since the Speaker is a Dalit, the BRS member insulted him.
Meanwhile, a delegation of BRS MLAs met the Speaker in his chambers and demanded that the video of Jagdish Reddy’s speech be played in the presence of floor leaders of all the parties.
BRS leader and former minister T Harish Rao defended Jagadish Reddy. "There is nothing wrong in saying that all members have equal rights," he said.
(With IANS inputs)