Telangana: Uproar in House over "objectionable" remarks against Sonia

Hyderabad, Nov 29: Certain "objectionable" remarks made by Telangana Deputy Chief Minister T Rajaiah against Congress president Sonia Gandhi caused a stir in the State Legislative Assembly on the last day of its budget session today.

The proceedings were adjourned twice for ten minutes each as the main opposition members came into the Well of the House protesting the Deputy CM's remarks even as Speaker S Madhusudanachari announced that the "objectionable remarks" would be expunged from the records.

The reference to Sonia Gandhi was made by first-time Congress MLA Padmavathi during Zero Hour where in she hailed her party chief for granting statehood to Telangana. "As a mother, despite knowing that she will lose her (political) life, Sonia delivered the baby (Telangana state).

No doubt the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and others also played their part but it was the sole will of Sonia that ensured statehood for Telangana. We should be ever grateful to her," Padmavathi said.

Concurring with the point, Deputy CM Rajaiah, however, said it was the indefinite hunger-strike launched by TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao on November 29, 2009 that forced the then UPA government to come out with an announcement on December 9 on creation of the separate state. He went on to refer to the events that followed the December 9 announcement.

The Congress members were on their feet in protest and trooped into the Well leading to the first adjournment for ten minutes. When the proceedings resumed after more than an hour, Congress senior MLA Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka took strong exception to the Deputy CM's remarks and wanted the latter to withdraw them.

"It is left to the member's wisdom," he added. However, Rajaiah sought to justify his remarks, leading to uproar in the House.

PTI