Hyderabad: Police on Tuesday detained nine TD legislators who were protesting outside the Telangana Assembly, after they were suspended from the entire Budget Session.

Earlier, on Monday, 11 Opposition Telugu Desam MLAs, including floor leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao and A. Revanth Reddy were suspended after they refused to apologise for showing disrespect to the National Anthem during the Governor’s address to the joint session of the Telangana State Legislature on March 7.

This is the first time in the history of the Assembly that such a stern action has been initiated against MLAs.

As soon as the House commenced on Monday, minister for legislative affairs T. Harish Rao said that the MLAs who had shown disrespect to the National Anthem on March 7 by standing on benches and shouting slogans should tender unconditional apologies.



One of the TDP MLAs being dragged away by police in Hyderabad. (Photo: ANI Twitter)

However, the TD MLAs ignored this and instead staged a protest in the podium demanding government protection for the rights of SCs and STs. Mr Harish Rao repeatedly said that if the TD members refused to apologise then stern action would be initiated against them.

With no response from the TD MLAs, he moved a resolution seeking suspension of the agitating members. Speaker S. Madhusudhana Chary suspended the MLAs. The suspended MLAs refused to leave the House and marshals were called to evict them.