The Telangana budget session has been a volatile one indeed. 2 Congress MLAs were expelled and 11 were suspended. Swamy Goud council chairman was hit by a microphone as well to make matters worse.
It goes to show that politics in India is reduced to childish antics and disregard for discipline expected of an unruly class of six-year-olds. But then again one can’t be sure if six-year-olds would throw microphones at one another. Swamy G0ud was hit by a microphone by MLC Komatireddy Venkata Reddy. The Congress MLAs began shouting slogans flinging microphones and papers in the air.
But the ones to stand in solidarity with Congress, shockingly were BJP MLAs. MLA G Kishan Reddy said it was because it was undemocratic to suspend the opposition. He objected to the Leader of Opposition being suspended as well. But the resolutions were passed unanimously against Congress’ ‘behaviour’. The expelled MLAs said they would go on a 48-hour hunger strike. They termed the suspension ‘unlawful’. The disruption of Governor ESL Narasimhan’s speech has now invited multiple opinions.
The expulsion would mean that bypolls will be imminent in Telangana. The Legislature though does have the power to take action against members for unruly behaviour and unethical conduct. This is not the first time members are being expelled, Subramanian Swamy and Indira Gandhi also form two incidents in such regard. In fact, there are many incidents all across the board. While the opposition might feel their voice is being silenced, where should the opposition draw a line and is it ok to be violent and call it the opposition’s ‘voice’. If democracy was about muscle power then we would never have democracy in the first place, bad conduct and violence cannot be passed off as the opposition’ right to question the ruling government. Therefore any decision beyond this point would require care.