BJP stages walkout over TDP members' suspension

HYDERABAD: The BJP members staged a walkout on Monday in protest against the suspension of TDP MLAs from the house. BJP floor leader K Laxman said the MLAs were suspended without being given an opportunity to tender an apology for alleged insult to the national anthem during the governor's address last Saturday in the assembly.
"Some legislators from the ruling party also disrupted the house during singing of the national anthem.But the action was taken selectively against only TDP MLAs which is highly objectionable. Minister for legislative affairs T Harish Rao misled the house into initiating action against the TDP members," Laxman said.
Harish Rao said the entire house supported the action against the MLAs who insulted the national anthem. He also said the legislators were given opportunity thrice to tender an apology but did not respond. He said the ruling party MLAs would also seek an apology if they had any proofs against their legislators. The minister said the BJP was supporting their alliance partner with the elections to the legislative council in mind. He said in Maharashtra, some MLAs were suspended for two years for attacking the governor.
Meanwhile, discussion on vote of thanks to the governor's address began with the ruling party members A Ramesh and Gongidi Sunitha praising the state government's welfare initiatives.
Bhadrachalam MLA (CPM) Sunnam Rajaiah urged the state government to allocate Rs 150 crore for the development of Sree Seetha Ramchandra Swamy temple at Bhadrachalam. He said the temple is one of the biggest in South India and both Bhadrachalam and Parnashala can be developed as tourist destinations.
Rajaiah demanded that the government confer on tribals ownership of forest land which they have been cultivating for over the years. "In my constituency, some tribals have been farming forest land but the forest officials are not allowing them to do so," he said and sought the intervention of the forest minister.
CPI MLA Ravindra Kumar said several families of the Telangana martyrs were yet to get the ex-gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh and a job for one member as announced by the state government. "During the Telangana movement, the TRS claimed 1200 people sacrificed their lives for the cause of separate state and now it says the number is only 369 and even they were not provided any relief," he said. He said even loan waiver was still not extended to many farmers.