Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLAs on Monday (December 16, 2024) staged a dharna at the Telangana Assembly entrance. | Photo credit: By arrangement
The Telangana Legislative Assembly was adjourned till Tuesday (December 17, 2024) after disruption by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs, who staged a protest demanding a discussion on handcuffing farmer Hiriya Naik, an accused in the Lagcherla case. It is alleged that the police repressed the farmers who opposed the land acquisition.
After the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on Monday (December 16, 2024) afternoon, the session quickly descended into chaos. BRS MLAs, former minister T. Along with Harish Rao, carrying placards with pictures and text regarding the handcuffing incident, attempted to enter the well of the House, prompting Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar to intervene.
Responding to the sloganeering BRS MLAs, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Wickremark and Tourism Minister Jupalli Krishna Rao asked opposition members to allow the scheduled short discussion on ‘Telangana State Tourism Policy’ in the afternoon session. However, BRS leaders insisted on giving priority to the issue of Lagcherla farmers.
Explaining the relevance of the new tourism policy, Krishna Rao said that the government aims to provide employment opportunities to the unemployed youth through this policy. He criticized the BRS for opposing the discussion and said it was hindering the progress.
The Speaker expressed his displeasure with the member’s behavior and emphasized that the dignity of the House should be maintained. Despite repeated requests to surrender the placards and return to their assigned seats, the agitating BRS MLAs continued their agitation and attempted to reach the Speaker’s podium. In response, the Speaker directed the marshals to confiscate the placards and warned that members would only be allowed to speak if they complied.
The opposition MPs protested and shouted slogans and forced the Speaker to adjourn the meeting. After the adjournment, the agitating MLAs staged a dharna at the entrance of the assembly carrying placards.
published – Dec 16, 2024 at 05:24 pm IST