BRS Stages Walkout Over Musi Debate

Hyderabad: The BRS decision to boycott the Assembly Winter Session was announced after the party claimed that its deputy floor leader, T. Harish Rao, was disallowed from speaking in the House. The protest began during a discussion on the Musi river rejuvenation project.

Speaker Gadam Prasad allowed BRS MLA P. Sabita Indra Reddy to speak on the issue, but she requested that her chance be given to senior leader Harish Rao. The Speaker instead allowed Talasani Srinivas Yadav to speak, prompting the BRS members to walk out.

During Question Hour, when the subject came up, Harish Rao spoke on the issue and demanded that the government first disclose the estimated cost of the project and accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of making contradictory statements.

Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender noted that the river clean-up plan was drawn up in 2004 during the tenure of Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy but was later shelved. He said the Congress government was now reviving the project.

MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi asked whether the clean-up would begin from the river’s origin at Ananthagiri Hills or elsewhere, and sought desilting of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs to enhance their capacity.

BJP MLA Payal Sekhar pressed the government to clarify whether the project was aimed at development or beautification, and to explain the permissions granted for taking up the work.