62 MLAs suspended from House

For the first time in the budget session, Telugu Desam MLAs were suspended from AP Legislative Assembly over “tainted officials” issue, which rocked the House on Friday.

As many as 62 opposition MLAs were suspended as they had not agree to take up regular business and tabling of various Bills in the House during the evening session.

The Speaker, Mr N. Kirankumar Reddy, who adjourned the Assembly twice in the morning and once in the evening, suspended the members as they created furore in the House, causing disruption for almost three hours.

The Telugu Desam vehemently opposed the elevation of Mr Harshavardhan as an IAS officer even after he faced corruption charges and ACB raids in November, 2009. After the raids on his properties, Mr Harshavardan was suspended from the service.

However, the suspension was revoked and he was conferred IAS and posted in Small Savings Department recently. The Telugu Desam raised the issue during Question Hour alleging that the government had favoured the tainted official by clearing the way for him to get promotion as an IAS officer.

As soon as the TD MLA, Mr Revanth Reddy, began his speech levelling charges against Mr Harshavardan, the Congress chief whip, Mr Bhatti Vikramarka, and the whip, Mr Sailajanath, objected to his observations. They alleged that the Opposition was targeting only Dalit officials.

The Telugu Desam, which got the upper hand initially, was a taken aback with the usage of Dalit card by the Congress members.

Pandemonium prevailed for half-an-hour, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.

After the House re-assembled, the TD MLA, Mr M. Narsimhulu, alleged that the Congress government had harassed Mr Harshavardan and the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, himself allowed ACB raids against him. The Chief Minister took strong objection to the remarks of

Mr Narasimhulu and said the ACB need not take prior permission from him for conducting raids on senior officials.

Congress members demanded an apology from the Telugu Desam member since Mr Narsimhulu had made false allegations against the Chief Minister. The Speaker had also advised the Telugu Desam member to say sorry for dragging Mr Rosaiah’s name in the episode.