Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao face the possibility of a privilege motion, with AP Assembly Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao is likely to refer his letters to the Assembly’s Privileges Committee.
Sources said the “tone and tenor” of the three letters written by Dr Rao, a Rajya Sabha member, to the Speaker seeking re-installation of Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s portrait in Assembly lounge was being viewed by the ruling party as “derogatory”.
The Congress leader had written three letters — on July 28, August 22 and September 2 — to the Speaker. This newspaper has copies of three letters, all written in Telugu.
In the first letter, Dr Rao referred to a proposed no-confidence motion — that was later withdrawn — against the Speaker for allegedly behaving in a partisan manner. “Removal of YSR’s portrait is not an action that will elevate your stature, the MP wrote.
In his second letter, Dr Rao described the action of removal of YSR’s portrait as “uncivilised.”
Sources said what offended the TD most was the reference made to party founder N.T. Rama Rao.
He said TD leaders “usurped” NTR’s Chief Minister’s seat, his party and election symbol though he had helped them win the elections. Thereafter, he wrote, an effort was made to remove the name and photo of NTR but ultimately the TD realised that it needed NTR.
Dr Rao also compared the removal of YSR’s portrait to a “Kuravas committee”.
In his third letter, dated September 2, Dr Rao referred to both his earlier letters and said that people who saw Assembly proceedings live on TV told him that how the Speaker read only a few sentences from his letter and asked the House “Will you accept this?” Dr Rao said these people told him that it appeared to be a move to “insult” him. He said his intention was not hurt the Speaker but to bring history and tradition to his notice. He said he was ready to give an explanation if the Speaker felt there was objectionable in his letters.
When contacted, legislative affairs minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu confirmed that the ruling party was serious about the tone and tenor of the letters and a TD MLAs was likely to urge the Speaker to refer them to the Privileges Committee.
TD members are likely to seek action, including suspension, of YSRC members who pasted YSR pictures in the Assembly premises. A motion in this regard is likely to be moved on Friday.
