YSRCP terms it Black Day for democracy, condemns attack on Speaker, dalit MLAs

AMARAVATHI: Condemning the attack by TDP members on the Speaker and Dalit MLAs in the House, the YSR Congress termed it as ‘Black Day’for democracy and sought stringent action against the perpetrators.

Speaking at the media point here on Monday YSRCP MLAs narrated the sequence of events in which Speaker T Sitaram was attacked and dalt members were assaulted by TDP members under the direction of its president N Chandrababu Naidu.

MLA VR Eliza said that TDP members had en masse attacked and manhandled the Speaker, who hailed from the BC community and demanded stringent action against the TDP MLAs.

On the directions of Chandrababu Naidu, the TDP MLAs had thrown ethics of the House to winds and had been trying to stall the proceedings on a daily basis as per a plan.

MLA Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, who is placed in the front as per TDP’s conspiracy, rushed to the Speaker’s podium in a threatening manner and manhandled him, he alleged.

"When I tried to stop the attack on the Speaker, the TDP MLA pushed me aside. Then MLA Sudhakar Babu intervened but he too was attacked by Veeranjaneya Swamy,” Eliza said and demanded that cases be filed against the erring TDP MLAs under the SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act for attacking the Dalit MLA.

Sudhakar Babu, who also addressed the media, squarely blamed Chandrababu Naidu for the incidents in the House.

He said that TDP MLAs had attacked ruling party MLAs at the behest of Chandrababu Naidu and

demanded action against the them.

“TDP MLA Veeranjaneya Swamy also abused Deputy Chief Minister Narayana Swamy in unparliamentary language besides attacking me,” he alleged.

Terming it as a ‘Black Day’, Sudhakar Babu said that the TDP MLAs were showing disrespect to the Speaker who belonged to the weaker sections by hurling and tearing away the papers and pointing the placards at his face daily as per the plan drawn up by Chandrababu Naidu.

When the TDP MLA Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy tried to attack the Speaker, Eliza tried to protect the Speaker by holding his hand but he was pushed aside by the unruly TDP MLAs. “Then I went to the podium to protect Eliza but upper caste TDP MLA B. Ashok abused me in filthy language and pushed me aside resulting in injuries to my elbow,” he said.

He appealed to the Speaker to examine the video footage and take action against the perpetrators and provide protection to the ruling party MLAs.

“Kondepi MLA Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy has been throwing placards and papers showing disrespect to the Speaker on a daily basis. TDP upper caste MLAs are also attacking us,” Sudhakar Babu alleged, seeking action against TDP MLAs.

Deputy Chief Minister Narayana Swamy blamed Chandrababu Naidu for clashes between BCs and SCs. It became a routine affair for the Opposition leader to comment on BCs, SCs and Reddys in an utterly abusive language, especially taking caste names for political gains, he rued.

Chandrababu's intention is to interrupt the ongoing sessions by provoking his MLA D Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, who belonged to SC community.

Taking a dig at the TDP leaders for making abusive remarks against him, he urged Speaker T Seetaram to register cases against the TDP members and impose severe punishment on them.

YSRCP MLA, K Jogulu, expressed concern over the attacks by the TDP leaders against the Speaker and seizing his podium obstructing the ongoing sessions. It's not correct on the part of the Opposition to resort to such activities in the Assembly. Visuals were also clear where TDP leaders were seen attacking the Speaker to prevent MLA Elisa and others from reaching the podium. Action should be initiated against the TDP leaders after observing the visuals and prevent reoccurrence of such incidents in Assembly, he said.