Giving a statement on the cases filed against the TRS MLAs and TJAC leaders during the Friday’s ‘Sadak Bandh’, Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy said the police filed cases against the TRS MLAs Etela Rajender, Jupally Krishna Rao, Kaveti Sammaiah and TJAC leaders Prof. Kodandaram and Srinivas Goud following a compliant filed by an RTC bus driver that these leaders had violated rights of the people.
Sabita said the police made arrests of Etela Rajender and others at Atmakur not to wreak vengeance but only on the orders issued by the Mahbubnagar SP, who was reviewing the Sadak Bandh program.
On Saturday, the TRS MLAs rushed to the well of the House demanding that the Speaker allow a discussion on the arrests made during the ‘Sadak Bandh’. The YSRCP MLAs also rushed towards the Speaker’s podium and demanded that he allow the discussion on ‘power crisis’ in the State. The House was adjourned twice immediately at 9 am and 10 am.
At last, the Speaker invited the floor leaders and discussed with them as how to run the House. The TRS, BJP, CPI members demanded that the Speaker allow the House to discuss the arrests made by the police during the ‘Sadak Bandh’. The MIM demanded that the Speaker allow discussion on Vikarabad communal riots on Saturday night. TDP, YSRCP demanded for short-discussion on power situation in the State.
As the government conceded the demand of the Opposition parties and the House resumed at 11.25 am, the YSRCP members rushed to the well and demanded the government to reduce the power ‘surcharge bills’.
Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who was in the chair, urged the YSRCP members to resume their seats. Even Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu urged the YSRCP members to resume their seats as the House will run as per floor leaders’ meeting but in vain. At this juncture, CPM MLA J Ranga Reddy and TRS MLA T Harish Rao requested the YSRCP members to resume their seats. Succumbing to the requests, YSRCP members resumed their seats.
At this juncture, when the Speaker gave an opportunity to MIM Floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi to speak, the latter alleged that the State government vengefully arrested 50 Muslim youths at Mominpet village near Vikarabad in a communal disturbance incident between Hindus and Muslims in regard to Mosque and Hanuman Temple. He also demanded the State government to arrest the school principal, who molested a Muslim girl at Anantapur town.
Later, the Home Minister made a statement on these issues. She said the TRS and JAC leaders had organized ‘Sadak Bandh’ even though the government denied permission. She said the government detained 1,422 Telangana protagonists, 17 MLAs and six MLCs and filed nine cases under Mahbubnagar district limits and one under at Cyberabad police limits.
Taking a serious exception to the Home Minister’s statement, Harish Rao said the government made a statement with full of lies. Alleging that the Home Minister misguided the House with lies, Harish Rao said the ‘Sadak Bandh’ program was organized to protest the adamant attitude of the Centre, which assured Parliament on creation of separate Telangana State. He also said Etela, Jupally and others were detained in the Dharur police station while Prof. Kodandaram and Srinivas Goud were kept at Shanthi Nagar police station following a stone pelting incident.
He also alleged that the police released Etela and others on personal surety but again detained them at Atmakur after they traveled for 40 km following the orders from Hyderabad City. It was nothing but a revenge against the TRS, which had introduced a no-confidence motion against the government in the House. He made it clear that the Telangana movement will not be stopped till the State was divided.
Demanding that the State government release the TRS and TJAC leaders immediately unconditionally, TDP MLA Narasimhulu alleged that the State will experience losses if it failed to solve the Telangana issue. He requested the Chief Minister to come forward to solve the issue.
CPI floor leader Gunda Mallesh has alleged that the ‘Sadak Bandh’ was organized in protest against the hostile attitude of the Congress government. He demanded that the Chief Minister introduce a resolution on Telangana issue and ensure that the House pass the resolution and forward it to the Centre, otherwise, the Chief Minister has no right to rule the State”, he added.
Reacting to the remarks of Mallesh, Chief Minister said he didn’t become Chief Minister with the blessings of the CPI and exuded confidence that he would win the 2014 elections and regain the seat.
Continuing his speech, Mallesh demanded that the Chief Minister withdraw cases against the TRS MLAs and JAC leaders unconditionally.
Telangana Nagara Samithi convener Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy has asked the government whether the Telangana region was not part of the State and why it was not responding on the suicides of youths demanding separate Telangana State. He warned that the government will not stop people’s movements with the help of police force.
YSRCP leader Shoba Nagi Reddy has alleged that the State government was arresting the leaders, who spoke against the government suppressing their rights. Though the people have the right to demonstrate and organize rasta rokos in a democracy, but the government was stifling the voice of the people, who tried to express their feelings. She demanded that the government release the TRS MLAs immediately.
BJP MLA Yennam Srinivas Reddy said there was no precedent in the State that no government arrested the MLAs after filing false cases.
Lok Satta MLA Dr Jaya Prakash Narayan said the Congress government showed discrimination towards the TRS MLAs and detained them. CPM MLA Julakanti Ranga Reddy said the Chief Minister, who claims himself to be very brave, sit with AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi and solve the Telagnana issue and release the TRS MLAs immediately.
TRS MLA Chennamaneni Ramesh demanded that the Speaker order an inquiry into the arrests of TRS MLAs. He said the Speaker was bound to protect the rights of MLAs.
Participating in the discussion, Congress MLA Mastan Vali said the government would not keep quiet if the MLAs tried to take the law into their hands. He alleged that the TRS was using T issue for their narrow political ends. Refuting the remark, Harish Rao said the Congress party only using the Telangana issue for its political ends.
Reacting to Harish Rao’s remarks, Chief Minister said they have to wait for the decision of the Centre on Telangana issue. He exuded confidence that the Centre would take a decision on Telangana after Parliament’s budget session. Responding to this, Harish Rao said the Assembly must pass a resolution demanding that the Centre take a decision on Telangana issue at the earliest and asked the Chief Minister why he was going back.
To this, the Chief Minister explained that while the Congress was strong in two regions, the TRS was confined to one region. Therefore, the Congress has to take a decision taking all aspects into consideration.
Harish Rao said the Congress was using Telangana issue for the sake of votes and seats and adopting different stands after the elections. At this juncture, the Home Minister said the government was acting in conformity with the judgments of the Supreme Court, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh High Courts that the leaders have to organize protests without disturbing peace and rights of the people and that was the reason why the government didn’t give permission to the Sadak Bandh. She said the Centre was seriously considering the Telangana issue and it would solve the issue as soon as possible.
After completion of the Home Minister’s clarification, the Deuty Speaker allowed the House to discuss on power situation in the State. But the TRS MLAs rushed towards the Speaker’s podium and demanded that the Chair allow their members to speak on Home Minister’s statement. At this juncture, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka adjourned the House till Monday.
