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The Telangana Legislative Council on Tuesday, September 8, suspended two BRS MLCs, T Madhusudhan and N Naveen Kumar Reddy, for the remainder of the ongoing monsoon session following allegations that they made derogatory and unparliamentary remarks against Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.
The action followed a resolution adopted earlier by the Legislative Assembly and subsequently forwarded to the Council. Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu moved the suspension resolution in the Council, which was passed unanimously. Chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy then announced the suspension and adjourned the House.
The entire controversy started when police didn’t allow BRS MLAs and MLCs to enter the assembly for wearing black T-shirts and sarees. As attempts to detain the opposition continued, a video of BRS MLC Madusudhan using abusive language while referring to Speaker Gaddam Prasad, a Scheduled Caste leader, has gone viral.
Both Madusudhan and MLC Naveen Kumar, who was also accused of making offensive remarks against the Speaker, were named in the complaint submitted by Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Pollepalli Venkatesam.
The issue triggered heated exchanges in the Council, with Congress, BJP, Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and other members condemning the alleged conduct of the two BRS legislators. On his end, BRS floor leader S Madhusudhana Chary questioned the detention of the two MLCs and argued that the House should hear their version before taking any decision.
Congress members rejected the argument and accused the BRS leadership of defending the alleged remarks instead of tendering an apology. They also cited the 2018 expulsion of Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and former MLA SA Sampath Kumar while demanding stringent action against the two MLCs.
BJP MLC AN Reddy said constitutional authorities, including the Governor, Legislative Council Chairman and Assembly Speaker, must be treated with due respect. He called for strong action to prevent similar incidents in the future. TJS MLC M Kodandaram said freedom of expression had its limits and maintained that personal attacks, particularly those involving caste references, could not be justified.
The Assembly resolution, moved by Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and seconded by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, strongly condemned the alleged remarks made by Madhusudhan and Naveen Kumar Reddy on September 7 near Gate No. 3 of the Assembly premises. Panel Speaker Kadiyam Srihari was presiding when the motion was taken up in the Assembly.
The resolution also criticised the two MLCs for allegedly removing their T-shirts in the presence of women during the incident, describing the behaviour as indecent and highly objectionable.
It further called upon BRS president and Leader of Opposition K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) to take responsibility for the conduct of the party's legislators and tender an unconditional apology to the Speaker, stressing that political differences or personal grievances could not be allowed to undermine the dignity and authority of the presiding officer.
Following the Council's decision, BRS MLCs staged a protest outside the House and raised slogans against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
