HYDERABAD: The Opposition, including the Left, has denounced the Government's action in booking criminal cases against five Telugu Desam MLAs for allegedly presenting fabricated documents to the Speaker on Sripadasagar project during the Assembly session.

Terming it as an affront to parliamentary democracy TDP leaders said MLAs' immunity could not be compromised. They demanded convening of the Assembly forthwith to discuss the issue.

At a press conference here on Sunday, TDP leaders T.Devender Goud, N.Janardhana Reddy, C. Ramachandraiah and M. Jagannadham asserted that no other agency could undermine the supremacy of the Assembly. They recalled that Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had stated that no other agency had the right to intervene in the business of Lok Sabha after a few suspended MPs moved the Supreme Court.

Declaring that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy could not browbeat and prevent them from discharging their responsibilities towards people, they announced that dharnas would be staged in district headquarters and near Indira Park, here, on Monday to protest the move. The TDP was in touch with other parties in Delhi for their support.

Describing the move as "highly undemocratic", CPI State secretary K.Narayana said the Government should have tried to convince the people by explaining the facts on allegations of corruption.

CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu said registering cases was not proper on moral grounds and the decision would only harm the Congress. The Government should at least now withdraw the decision.

Former BJP president M.Venkaiah Naidu described the decision as "unfair". He said democratic system would not function properly if cases were booked on such issues. Speaker's view

Assembly Speaker K.R.Suresh Reddy said here on Sunday that the members of the House had the privilege to raise any issue in any manner they preferred, which would not attract any provisions of the law to book cases against them. Reacting to the decision to book criminal cases against TDP legislators, he said if they related to any document, he will have to look into them.

"I will have to scrutinize the documents if any case has to be booked on this ground. Otherwise, if one is talking about their speeches or participation in debates, I can only say that they are well within their right to do so."

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