Make Assembly footage of "attack" public, demands Uttam

Hyderabad : Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday reiterated the demand that the entire footage of Assembly proceedings wherein Council Chairman Swamy Goud was allegedly hurt by a headphone flung by a Congess MLA during the Governor's address.

Addressing the 'Praja Swamya Parirakshana Nirahara Deeksha', the 48-hour hunger strike undertaken by expelled MLAs Komatireddy Venkatreddy and S.A. Sampath Kumar at Gandhi Bhavan, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party has lot of respect and love for Swamy Goud. He said everything was fine for about an hour after the Governor's address. However, the Chief Minister weaved a fictitious story of attack on the Council Chairman and forced him to visit a hospital. He said Assembly proceedings are covered by 5-6 cameras and therefore, the government should make the entire footage, especially the clip showing Swamy Goud getting hurt, public.

Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that KCR has been functioning with a fascist tendency and arrogance. "KCR apparently believes that Telangana has been formed to provide him and his family a lavish lifestyle. He doesn't like to be questioned by anyone on his failures or wrong decisions. For the same reason, KCR threw out the main opposition party from the House while showing total disrespect to the people of Telangana," he said.

The TPCC Chief said that never in the past in the history of entire country that all members of main opposition party were suspended for an entire budget session. He said no procedures, conventions, democratic norms or Parliamentary procedures were followed in expelling two members while suspending all others from the House. He said the entire process of expulsion and suspension was completed in just five minutes. He said even Leaders of Opposition in Assembly and Council were allowed to express their stand on the issue. Further, he said when members of other opposition parties wanted the Opposition Leader's suspension to be revoked, KCR justified the action by citing what Jana Reddy commented at Assembly Media Point. He said it was highly regrettable that KCR wanted to punish Congress MLAs for what they speak outside the House.

Uttam Kumar Reddy has strongly condemned the behaviour of Assembly Speaker S. Madhusudan Chary. He said it looked strange that the same person, who did not act on Disqualification Petition of 25 MLAs who defected to TRS from other parties and did not conduct a single hearing, was talking about morals and ethics. He said that the Speaker did not follow any procedures or referred the issue to Ethics Committee and blindly followed what was dictated by KCR. He alleged that Madhusudan Chary has brought shame to the democracy and disrespect to his post.

The TPCC chief termed the expulsion of Komatireddy and Sampath as completely illegal and said an MLA could not be disqualified just by passing a motion in the Assembly. "This seems to be the new language of KCR. Pass a motion in Assembly, sack opposition MLAs and then threw them out using police force. If this becomes a norm, then the party in power will act as per its will. There will be no need for democracy or Parliament," he said and announced that the Congress party was exploring all legal means to appeal against the expulsion of MLAs. He also said that the Congress leaders would meet President of India Ramnath Kovind and also raise the issue in the Parliament as both KCR and Madhusudan Chary have hurt the sanctity of Assembly.

He said that the Congress MLAs did not come to Assembly due to KCR's mercy. "We were elected by people and we are answerable to them. We don't need KCR's blessings to survive. We have equal responsibilities and powers like you (KCR). You've sent us out as you feared that you will be questioned on the status of assurances that you gave to people like three acres of land for Dalits, 12% reservation for Muslims and STs, double bedroom houses for poor and other promises. This is the last budget of your government and you did not do anything for the people," he said.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party would not allow KCR to treat Telangana as his 'jagir' (fiefdom). He said all assets and resources belong to people of Telangana and the ruling party should be accountable for each and every rupee being spent by them.

He said in his entire political career, he has not seen a situation wherein over 50 Task Force personnel were called inside the House as 'marshals' only to intimidate Congress legislators and suppress their voice. He said KCR has been justifying the similar protest being done by TRS MPs and his daughter in the Parliament.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that all Congress MLAs and MLCs have joined the 48-hour hunger strike protest in a Gandhian way at their party headquarters Gandhi Bhavan since Tuesday evening. However, he said police have been preventing Congress workers and sympathisers from coming to Gandhi Bhavan to express their solidarity. He said thousands of Congress workers have been arrested across the State since Tuesday night. He warned the police officials against 'over action' and advised them to act only as per law. He said KCR was about to lose power and loyalty to TRS would prove costly for the police officials who are not doin their duty but behaving like ruling party activists.

All senior leaders of Congress party participated in the 'Praja Swamya Parirakshana Nirahara Deeksha' which is going on since Tuesday evening. Hundreds of activists, various leaders of different organisations and common people from various walks of life visited Gandhi Bhavan to express their solidarity and support. They included MRPS founder Krishna Madiga.