The Telangana Assembly suspended BRS MLAs for the remainder of the current session on Tuesday after the opposition members protested against remarks by Congress MLA Veerlapally Shankar that were interpreted as referring to the death of BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
The suspension followed repeated disruptions soon after the House convened. BRS members held placards and raised slogans demanding action against Congress legislators whom they said had prayed for KCR’s death. Some opposition MLAs moved into the well of the House during the protest.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu told the Assembly that the Congress party did not endorse Shankar’s remarks. Both ministers said the party wished KCR a long life and wanted him to remain healthy and continue serving Telangana as the opposition leader.
“We don’t endorse such statements. KCR should live for 100 years and stay healthy,” Sridhar Babu said in the House, according to Telangana Today. Bhatti Vikramarka also appealed to the BRS members to follow the Assembly’s rules and refrain from disrupting proceedings.
The controversy centres on the phrase “chavu dappu”, which is associated with funeral processions. The remarks by Shadnagar MLA Shankar came amid a political confrontation involving Congress workers and BRS supporters at KCR’s residence in Erravelli. The BRS members demanded that the legislators responsible for the remarks be suspended.
BRS working president KT Rama Rao told the Chair that cases were being registered against opposition MLAs despite, he argued, there being no fault on their part. The Chair asked Rama Rao to submit a written notice on the issue.
The proceedings remained disorderly as the two sides displayed competing placards. BJP MLAs sought a debate on the 22A issue, while Congress members carried placards referring to a “Shuddi”, or cleansing, act carried out by BRS workers after Congress workers allegedly attempted to perform a “chavu dappu” at KCR’s residence.
Minister Adluri Laxman also called for a debate on the BRS workers’ “Shuddi” action. Shankar, whose remarks triggered the protest, was present in the House during the proceedings. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was absent.
As the slogans continued, Sridhar Babu moved a motion to suspend the BRS MLAs for the remainder of the session. The Assembly subsequently adjourned for a tea break after the suspension motion was moved.
