Telangana: KTR, Seethakka trade barbs over BRS Mock Assembly
Hyderabad, Sept 12 (TNT): A political war of words erupted in Telangana on Saturday over the BRS’ decision to conduct a Mock Assembly at Telangana Bhavan, with BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) defending the exercise and Telangana Panchayat Raj, Women and Child Welfare Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka terming it a “mockery of democracy”.
In a post on X, KTR said BRS MLAs had ensured that people’s issues were raised through the Mock Assembly despite their suspension from the State Assembly.
He alleged that the voices of BRS legislators had been “stifled” through an “unjust suspension” and appreciated the “fighting spirit” of party leaders who participated in the programme.
KTR said the BRS leaders had effectively highlighted what he described as the “failing state of affairs” under the Congress government.
Reacting to the BRS Mock Assemlby, Seethakka criticised the Opposition party for holding a Mock Assembly at its party office while the actual Assembly was in session.
Speaking to the media in the Assembly lobby, she said elected representatives had a responsibility to attend the legislature and raise public issues, and alleged that the BRS exercise reflected a lack of respect for democratic and legislative institutions.
Taking a dig at BRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao, Seethakka said he had neither attended the Assembly nor the Mock Assembly organised by his own party.
“When in power, he wouldn’t come to the Secretariat; now in the Opposition, he doesn’t come to the Assembly,” she remarked.
Seethakka also accused the BRS of continuing to display what she termed a “Dora” mentality even after losing power, referring to the party’s practice of holding meetings at a farmhouse.
She further criticised the BRS over what she alleged was disrespect towards the Speaker and the legislature.
Seethakka said the people would teach the BRS a fitting lesson for what she described as insulting democratic institutions and predicted that the party would eventually lose its position as the principal Opposition.
TNT TS
