It's judiciary vs House over MLA's suspension

Issue will be taken up by the Assembly today

The issue of interim orders by the high court quashing the suspension of Nagari MLA R K Roja of YSR Congress for one year by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly will be taken up by the Assembly on Monday.

While the treasury benches are gearing up to thrash out the issue even without including the opposition which has declared that it will boycott the discussion, the  woman lady MLA has moved the high court with a contempt petition against the Assembly that barred her entry into the premises over her misbehavior unbecoming of a elected legislator. The high court will take up that petition on Monday.

“While the TDP government and their speaker will be discussing the issue on Monday, we (YSRC) will stand in support of the judiciary. We will see that the orders of the high court are honoured by the Assembly,” YSRC party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy said. Jaganmohan Reddy hopes that the high court would summon Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao and the Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Raamakrishnudu to admonish them for not honouring its orders.

Not budging an inch, the AP Assembly has already filed an appeal to the high court division bench against the interim order. It has been arguing that the Assembly, which has imposed a ban on Roja’s entry, has the powers to either repeal or reinstate it. “Roja has misled the high court by suppressing the facts that it was she that has maligned the honour of the house,” Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said commenting on the on the interim orders of the single bench.

However, TDP Dalit Legislator V Anitha, who complained against Roja to the committee, is demanding stern action against Roja.

It was on December 18 last year during the winter session of the Assembly, Roja made derogatory comments against Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the House calling him Ca-Ma CM (Call Money CM) and also on Anitha and few other TDP legislators. The visuals which were repeatedly played by the news channels also showed Roja gesturing  her foot wear towards the treasury benches and making gestures.

Even as the YSRC says that the footage is doctored and questioned how only one side of the footage was selectively leaked by the Assembly Secretariat, Legislative Affairs Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu moved the suspension motion against Roja which was adopted by the House with voice vote. Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao then gave a ruling suspending Roja from the House for one year.

“What about my rights, I am well educated Dalit woman and Roja made derogatory comments on my character in the well of the House. After the live telecast  I was too ashamed to show my face to my children and my husband. I could not come out into my constituency for almost a week,” a teary V Anitha who deposed before  the Privileges Committee said demanding stern action against Roja.

“The section under which I was suspended is valid only for the winter session,” Roja said. “The way I have been suspended from the House, has pained me a lot. I didn’t use inappropriate language against anybody. This is budget session and I must not be deprived of a chance to highlight problems of my constituency,” Roja said. She added that the privileges committee can’t take action against her as one cant be punished twice for the same crime.