Jagadish in the line of fire

CM annoyed by frequent outbursts of Power Minister

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is likely to crack the whip on Minister for Power G Jagadish Reddy for creating embarrassing moments for him on more than one occasion during the budget session forcing the Chief Minister to offer an apology on behalf of the minister.

Speculation is rife that the Chief Minister may drop Jagadish Reddy after Ramnavami. It may be mentioned here that the minister had once lost his cool in the Council and shouted against some members. According to sources, KCR was angry with Jagadish Reddy and pulled him for his intemperate behaviour.

Reddy is known for losing his cool and making snide remarks against members. While in the recent past the minister used words like “Nee Amma…”, on Wednesday he came down heavily on Congress MLA G Chinna Reddy for suggesting the minister to exercise restraint since he was the first-time MLA. Terming Chinna Reddy as a stooge of Congress, the minister said that he secured MLA seat by licking boots of the leaders like Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Taking strong exception to Jagadish Reddy’s comments, the opposition members stormed in to the well of the Assembly and demanded an apology. Amidst the pandemonium, the minister said that he had no objection if the Speaker expunges his comments if the House felt that his remarks were objectionable. The Speaker announced that the remarks would be expunged.

But the Congress members insisted that the minister offer an apology and continued to stage a protest. They even demanded dismissal of the minister. As the Congress members did not relent even after repeated appeals the Speaker adjourned the House for 10 minutes at around 10.30 am.

When the House reassembled at 11.45 am, Congress MLAs again trooped into the well of the House and shouted slogans. The Minister said that he would offer an apology if Chinna Reddy asks for it. The minister for Legislative Affairs T Harish Rao appealed to the Congress members to give up the protest but the Congress members refused and the Speaker again adjourned the House at 12.05 pm.

When the House resumed at 12.15 pm, BJP floor leader K Laxman and CPI MLA A Ravindra Kumar found fault with the minister and demanded that he tender apology. As the pandemonium continued, the Speaker adjourned the House again till 1.30 pm. As the House reassembled the leader of opposition K Jana Reddy demanded that the Chief Minister should come to the House and resolve the issue.

He suggested that the Speaker examine the video footage and take action against those who used objectionable language. Jana Reddy said that he was ready to call the Chief Minister over phone. Though Harish Rao intervened and said that the opposition should give up since the minister had apologised, the Congress members said that minister should offer unconditional apology.

Later in the evening, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao expressed regrets over the episode. Stating that what Congress member Chinna Reddy spoke was correct, KCR said that there were no two opinions about Mahabubnagar being a backward district. Chief Minister said that there was nothing wrong with Chinna Reddy’s question.