BRS gives privilege motion notice against CM for ‘misleading House’

HYDERABAD

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has given a notice for initiation of privilege motion against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on the grounds of making a false statement regarding Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, misquoting Apex Council meetings and altering the order of minutes and falsely projecting the temporary arrangement as a binding agreement during the Krishna waters issue debate.

A BRS MLAs’ delegation comprising K.P. Vivekanda, Kova Laxmi, Muta Gopal, Anil Jadhav and Vijayudu submitted the privilege motion notice addressed to the Speaker to Legislature (Assembly) Secretary R. Tirupathi. They said it is a well-established parliamentary principle that the dignity of the House rests on the truthfulness and accuracy of statements made on its floor.

Any deliberate misstatement, distortion of official records or misrepresentation of fact has the effect of misleading members and undermining the authority of the Legislature. They explained that the Chief Minister’s statement on RLIS was factually incorrect and misleading and clearly contradicted by the official statement issued by the Andhra Pradesh government.

Stating that placing such an incorrect assertion before the House on an inter-State river water issue has misled the Legislature and would attract Rule 168 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, which provides that a question of privilege may be raised in cases of contempt of the House.

Similarly, the two other grounds too merit a question of privilege of the House, the BRS MLAs said.