Govt Walks Tightrope on Cong MLA’s KCR Comments
Bhatti, Sridhar condemn, declare none wishes ill for former CM
Hyderabad:
The Congress government on Wednesday condemned remarks by the party legislator from Shadnagar, Veerlapalli Shankar, on former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao after BRS members protested in the Telangana Legislative Assembly and demanded action against the MLA.
Shankar had said, “We are seeking his death,” while referring to Chandrashekar Rao as the “misfortune for the state,” prompting BRS members to storm the well of the House and raise slogans demanding action against him.
Legislative affairs minister D. Sridhar Babu said the government did not endorse such remarks and wished the former chief minister a long life. “Nobody wants the death of anyone else. We only wish well for KCR garu and wish him a long life and his continued service to the people of Telangana. We condemn the comments. The Congress is not a party that wishes death to anyone. If there are any fights to be fought, we will fight them politically.”
Sridhar Babu added that “our Chief Minister also says KCR should be well.”
As BRS members continued their protest, deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the government was making its position clear on the remarks. “The BRS is saying KCR’s death was sought. We are informing KCR and the state; we are not wishing for his death.”
Bhatti Vikramarka, however, said in an apparent reference to the BRS that “if you have such wishes, we cannot do anything.”
Amid the protests, the Speaker said he was willing to take up the issue if the BRS submitted a written request seeking a discussion.
Sridhar Babu and Bhatti Vikramarka criticised the BRS members for their “unruly behaviour” and attempts to “intimidate the Speaker” by raising slogans near the Speaker’s podium.
