Five MLAs suspended from Andhra Pradesh Assembly

Hyderabad, Feb 18 (PTI) Five MLAs - three from TRS andtwo from TDP -- were today suspended for seven days from theAndhra Pradesh Assembly for unruly behaviour during Governor ES L Narasimhan''s address to the joint Legislature session.

The Assembly was adjourned for the day without anyother business being transacted today, as TRS and TDP MLAsstormed the Speaker''s podium and raised slogans on Telanganaand fee reimbursement issues, respectively.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy strongly denouncedyesterday''s. TRS MLAs and a couple of TDP Telanganalegislators had created a bedlam and virtually manhandled thegovernor while he was delivering his customary address to thejoint session.

"The issue should be referred to the ethics committeeof the Legislature. There could be a justified issue which themembers could raise in the House but what happened yesterdaywas totally unprecedented. We have to strongly condemn suchundesirable acts," Kiran Kumar said.

He was speaking after Legislative Affairs Minister DSridhar Babu moved a motion seeking suspension of the MLAs.

Accordingly, T Harish Rao, K Sammaiah, Vidyasagar (allTRS), A Revanth Reddy and P Mahender Reddy (both TDP) weresuspended.

Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar termed the behaviourof some of the members as "unruly, unjustified and uncalledfor" and observed that the incidents in the House yesterdaywere "shameful for democracy".

"We have not been able to follow the high standards ofpublic life that we are expected to. Members have to riseabove their petty issues and safeguard the dignity of theHouse," Manohar noted.

Asserting that it was the responsibility of everymember to uphold the values of the House, he said severeaction was warranted against the members who misbehaved.

Sridhar Babu endorsed these views and said yesterday''sincidents in the House were "totally unwanted." The Assemblywas then adjourned till Monday.

Earlier, proceedings were disrupted by MLAs of TDP andTRS as well as those from Y S Jaganmohan Reddy''s group ondifferent issues, forcing adjournment twice.

TRS and TDP MLAs stormed the Speaker''s podium holdingplacards on Telangana and fee reimbursement issues as soon asthe proceedings began. This led to a 10-minute adjournment.

Government Chief Whip Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka soughtto move a privilege motion over yesterday''s incidents. TheDeputy Speaker said he would examine the notice and take adecision.

When the House re-assembled half an hour later, theTDP and TRS members continued the protest, standing in theWell of the House. .