The Formula E race inquiry caused an uproar in the assembly after the BRS raised strong opposition

BRS MLAs on Friday (December 20, 2024) staged a protest in the Hyderabad Assembly demanding a discussion on the Sutra-E race issue. | Photo credit: PTI

The state government’s decision to order an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the organization of the Formula-E car race on Friday (December 20, 2024) disrupted the legislative session for more than four hours.

The members of the opposition party requested Speaker G. Prasad Kumar to allow a meeting to be held today to discuss the government’s decision, but the treasury bench rejected the request. There was a strike in the House throughout the day as the BRS members persisted in their demands.

Opposition members stormed the House, and BRS member T. Harish Rao managed to get close to the Speaker’s dais amid the scuffle between the Speaker and the BRS members. During this the BRS members tore the papers related to the day’s work and threw the pieces towards the Speaker’s chair forcing the adjournment of the meeting.

Although the speaker repeatedly asked the members to sit down, it was futile as the opposition members continued to raise slogans against the government’s decision. Mr. Harish Rao claimed that the Formula E race was in the interest of the state but the government registered an illegal case against party member KT Rama Rao. “It (Sutra e Race) was done in the interest of the state and if otherwise, let the government prove its allegation. Members should have a chance to express their views on this matter,’ he said.

Congress member Revuri Prakash Reddy, who intervened in the matter, said that the matter could not be raised in the legislature as it had been handed over to the ACB with the consent of Governor Jishnu Dev Verma.

Shri Prasad Kumar urged the members to allow the passage of the Telangana Bhu Bharti (Record of Rights in Land) Act, 2024 and assured that he would call the BRS members in his chamber to take a decision on the matter. But the BRS members did not pressurize the Speaker to ask Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to take up the Record of Rights Bill.

The Speaker had to adjourn the double meeting. President, Revenue Minister and Legislative Affairs Minister D. BRS members continued to raise slogans against the government’s actions as repeated requests by Sridhar Babu went futile.

MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi who was asked to speak on the bill, requested the Speaker to order the House or suspend the aggrieved BRS members. BJP floor leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy also wanted action from the Speaker so that members could hear his party’s suggestions on the bill.