Kodela defends his decision
Highlights
Dubs her behaviour unbecoming of a member of the House. Informs that legislators have been suspended for more than one year in Parliament and other States. Appeals to the member of opposition to ensure the smooth running of the House.
State Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao stated that there are precedents of suspending members from Assembly for two years, “In others states few members were suspended for rest of the term. The same happened in parliament, when members crossed the line of decency and made derogatory remarks against constitutional functionaries including the leader of the house, Speaker or the Governor,” he affirmed Addressing a press conference at the Inspection Bunglow here on Sunday, Kodela said that the events that unfolded at the Assembly in the past two days pained him. “Precious time of the house was wasted and behaviour of some members is unbecoming of that of the house,” he added. Enumerating reasons for the suspension of YSRCP MLA Roja for an unprecedented time of one year, Kodela said that the member's behaviour smacked off dignity of the house. “Un-parliamentary language was used against the leader of the house. Her body language and the language, she used against Chief Minister was threatening,” she added.The Speaker asserted that the member indulged in character assassination against the CM and the gesticulations she made was unbecoming of a woman. On suspending the member for one year, Kodela said that the gravity of the punishment was a reflection of the gravity of a member's behaviour.
“There were precedents of other State legislatures suspending a member for even two years and even for the rest of the term of the member which is more than two years. Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra States suspended some of their members for two years for their indecent behaviour,” he added. The Speaker said that a day before the Assembly session, an all party meeting was convened to discuss with members for the smooth conduct of business in the house. He maintained that people send members to the house to raise issues and debate upon and not stall proceedings of the house.
“The 5-day winter session was supposed to debate on many issues of paramount importance including sand and liquor mafia, law and order situation, bauxite mining and call money racket. Many issues would have been raised in the question hour and zero hour and through call attention motion. At least 150 members were supposed to speak in the house but three days of precious time had been wasted because of inappropriate behavior of some of the members of the opposition,” he added. The Speaker regretted that just two more days remained before the house closes for Christmas. “More ever it was the house which recommended such a punishment to the member and was not exclusively his decision,” he added. He urged the people to pardon the erring members for indulging in colossal wastage of time, energy and people's money. Kodela said that he had no objection to extend the session by two days, if the members feel so. Although he was accused of partisan behaviour by the opposition, the Speaker said that he gave opposition time for discussion on par with the ruling party members. He appealed to all the members to cooperate in the smooth conduct of the house when the session resumes on Monday.
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