The Supreme Court’s direction to firebrand YSR Congress party MLA R K Roja to apologise for her indecent comments against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and another TDP MLA in the Assembly has created a sort of win-win situation for both the ruling TDP and the Opposition YSR Congress party.
The Supreme Court, while declaring that the Assembly has all powers to suspend a member, found fault with the Speaker’s Secretariat for wrongly quoting the rules for Roja’s suspension.
It also asked the Assembly to put an end to the controversy by accepting the apology of Roja and see that the democratic process would go on smoothly without further confrontation.
Interestingly, Roja sought to give a different interpretation to Supreme Court’s directive. She said the court did not ask her to apologise in the House but give her an explanation, which she said she would do.
However, the court reportedly reprimanded Roja for her stubborn stand in not respecting the House by saying that she would not tender an apology till she was allowed into the House. The apex court asked her to write a letter to the Speaker seeking apology.
It does mean Roja does not have to apologise openly in the House but can do it through a letter, which is more convenient for her. For the TDP, too, it is a victory as Roja got the drubbing from the Supreme Court.
Let us hope, at least now, the members do not cross the limits of decency and decorum in the House.
