However, Rajaiah sought to justify his remarks, saying, “As a former Congress man, I have a lot of respect for Sonia Gandhi.” But his explanation failed to mollify the protesting opposition members.
The Congress legislators once again stormed the Speaker's podium even as he announced that he would go through the record and expunge the objectionable portions.
In the meantime, G Kishan Reddy said Congress could not claim credit for the creation of Telangana. “More than 1,200 youths sacrificed their lives for a separate state.
Sonia Gandhi is responsible for this by delaying the decision on granting statehood,” he claimed. “Congress was also responsible for the killing of 369 people who agitated for Telangana in 1969,” he alleged.
As this provoked Congress MLAs once again, the Speaker adjourned the house the second time for ten minutes. When the proceedings resumed after 70 minutes, Vikramarka demanded an apology from Reddy.
“Kishan has no moral right to make unwarranted remarks against Sonia Gandhi. When all legislators cutting across party lines resigned from their posts demanding statehood, Kishan went into hiding and did not quit,” Vikramarka said.
The Deputy CM, meanwhile, reiterated that he had respect for Sonia Gandhi and the Speaker could remove his remarks from the record if there was anything objectionable.
Legislative Affairs Minister T Harish Rao appealed to the members to let the house take up discussion on proposed water grid and tank improvement, but Congress MLAs continued their protest in the well, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the Assembly sine die.
The house sat for 19 days during the session.
