Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directed criticism towards BRS MLA and former state minister KT Rama Rao during a session in the state assembly on Saturday, referring to him as a non-resident Indian (NRI) who lacks an understanding of the essence of democracy.
"Some NRIs do not understand the essence of democracy. They won't even try to understand it," remarked Revanth Reddy, explicitly mentioning KTR, news agency ANI quoted as saying. "In democracy, 49 has zero value and 51 has a hundred percent value. The party with 51 percent seats forms the government, and the party with 49 percent sits in opposition," he added. The Chief Minister rebuked the opposition for the language used in the Assembly.
"They critically analyse the decisions of the government and give advice and suggestions. If the government ignores it, they resort to protests, dharnas, and others. We even have occasions where hunger strikes were done. They should take up that spirit, but language like 'we are bulls and we will come to the podium and fight gusti,' such language is not of any use for their honour or for running this house," stated the Chief Minister.
Earlier in the day, BRS MLAs staged a walkout from the Telangana Assembly, alleging that they were not given time to speak during the proceedings.
BRS MLC K Kavitha expressed her dissatisfaction, saying, "Unfortunately, it is a precedent in the country today to keep blaming the democratically elected governments. In our Governor's speech yesterday, after the new Government in Telangana was elected, the previous governments have been aligned in quite harsh words. Today, we gave a Motion of Amendment to the Governor's Address, but when the Government requested that this is the first day of the Government and they need certain cooperation, we cooperated with them and withdrew. But in this nation where governments are elected democratically, Governors and Governments should be very careful in choosing the terms and terminology because it will reflect upon the mandate given by the people which is not fair. So, we strongly protest to the Governor's speech that was delivered yesterday in the Assembly. But, in the spirit of cooperation, governance and Telangana's development, we expressed our protest but cooperated with the government," news agency ANI quoted her as saying,