Nagam questions validity of Speaker's decision

Suspended Telugu Desam Party leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy on Monday cast doubts about the validity of Speaker Nadendla Manohar’s decision to reject the resignations of the MLAs from Telangana, saying that the elected representatives had put in their papers `voluntarily’ and without any force or due to the emotionally surcharged atmosphere.

Talking to media persons at Assembly Media Point, Mr Janardhan Reddy questioned why the Speaker chose to inform his decision that “the resignations were rejected as they had been submitted in an emotionally surcharged atmosphere,” through a press note before leaving for London.

“I suspect that the Speaker took this decision (of rejecting the resignations) as the Congress party would have lost its majority in the House,” the senior politician said.

Stating that the four members of his group have already sent their resignations through fax on Sunday, Mr Janardhan Reddy stated that they would again send their resignations in a sealed cover, following instructions given by an Assembly employee.

Mr Janardhan Reddy also questioned why the Congress and Telugu Desam Party Members from Telangana region were dillydallying and convening meetings on resubmitting their resignations to the Speaker.

“The TDP and Congress MLAs must stop their meetings and resubmit their resignations for the cause of separate Telangana statehood immediately,” the suspended TDP leader demanded.

He also challenged Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to put behind him bars for questioning the Speaker’s unilateral act of rejecting the resignations.

Mr Janardhan Reddy also disclosed that he would observe a ‘deeksha’ on July 28 in Nizamabad district for achieving statehood for Telangana.  

He also questioned the Congress leaders for celebrating the ‘flag hoisting festival’ in villages on July 27. “On what basis would they be organising ‘flag hoisting festival’? Is it for achieving Telangana or for their failure to do so?,” he asked.