It was not just the TDP members who were shouting slogans when National Anthem was being played in the House on Saturday. Even the ruling TRS members were found dishonouring the National Anthem by fighting with the TDP members.
While the TRS tried to use the issue to put the belligerent TDP in a fix, the Congress turned the tables and made the ruling party stand in the dock.
On the first day of budget session on Saturday, before the Governor’s speech, the TRS and the TDP members clashed in the House, during which three of the TDP members, including stormy petrel Revanth Reddy, were pushed down. The clash went on even while the National Anthem was played. After this, the Speaker asked the leaders of various parties to study the clippings of the incident.
On Monday, when the House reassembled, Legislative Affairs Minister T Harish Rao raised the issue of disrespect to National Anthem and urged the Speaker to initiate action against the erring TDP members. However, Congress Legislature Party leader K Jana Reddy pointed out that the clippings shown to him were incomplete. He further sought that the complete and unedited footage should also be shown to the members.
Jana Reddy asked the government to avoid using two yardsticks for the ruling party and the Opposition.
The CLP leader wanted the ruling party to behave properly and investigated into. He said the footage of the ruckus at the end of Governor’s speech was shown, while the fisticuffs during the playing of National Anthem before the beginning of the Governor’s speech were not shown. Congress member Sampath said the ruling party was trying to shield its MLAs in the incident.
He said the National Anthem belongs not just the TRS but to the entire 125-crore Indians. Jana Reddy said everyone should respect the National Anthem.
