l First woman home minister of AP insulted in TG
l Revanth dubs YSR’s lucky charm as ‘untrustworthy’
l KTR says the Chief Minister insulted all women of TG
Bharat Rashtra Samithi legislator Sabita Indra Reddy was the first woman home minister of Andhra Pradesh and considered as lucky charm for late Dr Y S Rajashekar Reddy who used to even start all his programmes from Chevella. Fifteen years later, Congress CM Revanth Reddy in Telangana accused her of deceit and said; “If you trust her, you would end up in front of the Jubilee Bus Stand.” Immediately, the Telangana Assembly was rocked by protests, with BRS legislators taking exception to some of the ‘insensitive and crude’ remarks made by the Chief Minister.
Sabita Indra Reddy, Sunita Lakshma Reddy, and Kova Lakshmi sat on the floor of the House, while other BRS legislators protested in the well of the House. Members belonging to BRS raised slogans against the Chief Minister’s arrogant behavior. The remarks in question were made when Revanth Reddy was reacting to the speech of BRS working president KT Rama Rao on the Budget Appropriation Bill. Revanth Reddy said: “If you trust your two sisters (Sabita Indra Reddy and Sunita Laxma Reddy) sitting behind you, you will end up in front of the Jubilee Bus Stand.” Terming the remarks as ‘insensitive and crude’, BRS party legislators started protesting. Several BRS legislators rushed to the well, while continuing their protests. They demanded that the Chief Minister should immediately withdraw his ‘cheap comments’ on women leaders and tender an apology. The Chief Minister immediately left the Assembly, stating that had to meet the Governor. Earlier, Sabitha strongly objected to Revanth Reddy’s remark. She wanted to know why the Chief Minister had been targeting her. She reminded him that she had welcomed Revanth after he joined the Congress and even told him that he would have a bright future and could become CM one day. “CM is alleging that we had deceived the party. Was I at fault for wishing him only good?” she asked, while demanding that Revanth Reddy should withdraw his words. In reply, Revanth acknowledged that what Sabitha had said was true about warmly welcoming him to the party. However, he added a caveat: “I have to disclose another thing, much like what Sabithakka shared. After assuring me full support for my candidature in the Malkajgiri LS seat (in 2019 elections), Sabithakka left me high and dry by joining the BRS party to become a minister”. Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka intervened and took objection to Sabitha Indra Reddy’s words. He then recalled that a Congress delegation led by him had met her and requested her not to shift to the BRS party as it would deprive the party and a Dalit leader like him of the status of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. He said, “However, our pleas fell on deaf ears as she joined BRS for selfish gains to become a minister and in the process dumped the Congress party that had given key posts and respect to her. With what face are you talking about our Leader of the House”. The BRS leaders continued to protest. With none of the protesting legislators heeding requests for maintaining order in the House, Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar adjourned the House for a while. Even after the proceedings resumed, BRS members continued their protests, making it difficult for other members to participate in the debate on the Appropriation Bill.
