Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar broke down in tears during the Assembly proceedings on Tuesday after ruling Congress members condemned alleged derogatory remarks made by BRS MLC Tata Madhusudan Rao, popularly known as Tata Madhu, about the Speaker and his late mother.
The controversy, which began during a confrontation between BRS leaders and police outside the Assembly on Monday, escalated into a major political row on Tuesday. Tata Madhu was arrested by Saifabad Police, while another BRS MLC, N Naveen Kumar Reddy, was also arrested in connection with the case. Police registered the case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Tata Madhu, however, has denied insulting the Speaker, maintaining that his remarks were directed at police personnel during the confrontation and not at Gaddam Prasad Kumar.
Speaker Gets Emotional in Assembly
The issue came up during the Assembly proceedings after Minister Seethakka condemned the alleged remarks against the Speaker's deceased mother.
As Seethakka became emotional while speaking about the incident, Speaker Prasad Kumar also broke down.
The Speaker said he was deeply hurt by the remarks attributed to Tata Madhu and by seeing Seethakka in tears. He also referred to his relationship with the minister, saying she had been tying a rakhi to him for the past five years.
Prasad Kumar said the Assembly would pass a resolution on the matter and forward it to the Legislative Council.
The episode prompted Congress legislators and ministers to express solidarity with the Speaker.
Tata Madhu Arrested, Case Filed Under SC/ST Act
Saifabad Police arrested Tata Madhu on Tuesday morning from his residence at the New MLA Quarters in Hyderabad.
According to police, the case was registered following a complaint by Pollepalli Venkatesham, Officer on Special Duty to the Assembly Speaker. The charges include provisions of the BNS and sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Police also arrested BRS MLC N Naveen Kumar Reddy, who was picked up from his residence in Kokapet. Both arrests relate to alleged derogatory remarks against the Speaker during Monday's political confrontation.
Tata Madhu has rejected the allegation that he targeted the Speaker. He has maintained that the objectionable comments were made in the context of the confrontation with police.
Revanth Reddy Calls It ‘Black Day’
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy strongly condemned the alleged remarks and described the episode as a “black day” for Telangana.
Revanth Reddy said an insult to the Speaker was not merely an individual matter but an affront to the dignity of the Legislature and society.
He also highlighted Prasad Kumar's position as a Dalit leader, arguing that the alleged remarks should be viewed as an insult to the Dalit and tribal communities as well as to the institution of the Speaker.
The Chief Minister said the Speaker, once elected to the constitutional position, represents the entire House and should be treated with equal respect by members across party lines.
Congress-BRS Clash Intensifies
The controversy has further deepened the confrontation between the ruling Congress and the opposition BRS.
Congress leaders accused Tata Madhu of using offensive language against a constitutional authority. BRS, meanwhile, rejected the allegations and accused the Congress government of using the controversy to target its leaders.
The dispute comes amid heightened tensions following a BRS protest outside the Assembly on Monday against what the opposition party described as the Congress government's failure to fulfil its electoral promises.
BRS leaders, including KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao, were detained during the protest after police prevented them from entering the Assembly premises wearing black T-shirts. (The Indian Express)
KTR Targets Congress Government
BRS working president KT Rama Rao used the protest to attack the Revanth Reddy government over its performance.
KTR alleged that Congress had made hundreds of promises before coming to power and had assured voters that they would be implemented within 100 days.
He claimed that even after 1,000 days of the Congress government, the promises had not been fulfilled.
The claims are part of the BRS's political campaign against the state government and were not accompanied by a separate response from Congress in the source material.
Police Action Adds to Political Tension
The latest arrests come against the backdrop of growing tensions between the Congress government and BRS.
Police had already detained several BRS leaders during Monday's protest outside the Assembly, while the Telangana High Court had also directed the state police not to prevent BRS legislators from entering the Assembly to attend the ongoing session.
The latest action against Tata Madhu and Naveen Kumar Reddy is likely to intensify the political confrontation, with both parties now accusing each other of crossing institutional and democratic boundaries.
For the Assembly, however, the immediate issue remains the alleged remarks against the Speaker and the subsequent legal action. Tata Madhu's denial means the allegations remain subject to the ongoing legal process.
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