HYDERABAD: Members of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) were suspended from the Assembly for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday when they stuck to their demand for a resolution on separate Telangana.

There was a difference to the protest by the party as all but one member sported black T-shirts with the separate Telangana slogan painted on them. Rebel MLA M. Satyanarayana Reddy was the odd man out. They encircled the podium and obstructed the proceedings.

Dharna staged

The 18 suspended members, including Mr. Reddy, later staged a sit-in at the Assembly gate and participated in a rally till the Police Control Room.

The suspension of legislators was followed by some ugly incidents inside the House as marshals had to chase and catch hold of some of them when they ran in the direction of the Chief Minister's chambers. Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy announced the suspension and adjourned the House simultaneously.

Angry exchanges were witnessed among TRS leaders, the Chief Marshal and the Legislature Secretary when a posse of marshals entered the House. The TRS legislators argued vehemently that the marshals had no role when the House was not in session. The argument of TRS members found the support of other opposition parties. Chief Marshal Ashok Gajapati Raju then recalled the marshals.

TDP protests

The period of adjournment saw a couple of TRS members climbing atop the desks and some others lying on the carpeted floor. Former Minister A. Chandrasekhar stepped down from the desk when veteran TDP MLA Ch. Rajeswara Rao requested him with folded hands.

When the Speaker reconvened the House earlier than scheduled, Nayini Narasimha Reddy of the TRS complained that the marshals misbehaved with them in his absence. Mr. Suresh Reddy offered to revoke their suspension if they participated in the business of the House. But, the MLAs walked away.

The Speaker later called off the question hour, inviting a strong protest from the Telugu Desam Party.

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