Hyderabad: Power minister G. Jagadish Reddy’s angry retort to a Congress MLA’s remark triggered uproar in the Telangana Assembly. The minister said that Congress members had “licked the boots of Seemandhra leaders like YSR” to become MLAs and ministers. Congress MLAs stormed the podium demanding an apology besides Mr Jagadish Reddy’s ouster from the Cabinet. The Speaker adjourned the House four times in an effort to calm tempers.

The row erupted during Question Hour when Congress MLAs sought replies about thermal power projects in Mahbubnagar district. Not satisfied with Mr Jagadish Reddy’s reply, Congress MLA G. Chinna Reddy said, “As a first-time MLA who became a minister with the blessings of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Mr Jagadish Reddy should come to the House well-prepared before answering questions.”

This annoyed the minister, who said, “I agree that I am a first-time MLA and don’t have experience as a minister. I became an MLA with the support of the people of Suryapet and became a minister with the blessings of KCR. But you became MLAs and ministers by licking the boots of Seemandhra leaders like YSR.”

The remark triggered protests from Congress members who sat on the podium and shouted slogans. The minister expressed regret over his remarks and offered to withdraw them, but Congress MLAs sought the intervention of the Chief Minister.

As Mr Rao was not in the House, Leader of the Opposition K. Jana Reddy urged Speaker Madhusudhana Chary to ensure his presence even by adjouring the House. When the House re-assembled in the evening, Mr Rao too expressed regret over the remarks made by Mr Jagadish Reddy but urged Congress MLAs not to belittle ministers.

“It’s the responsibility of both ruling and Opposition members to ensure that the House runs properly. Whatever happened in the House today is unfortunate. With both Mr Jagadish Reddy and Mr Chinna Reddy expressing regret, we should leave this issue now. I urge the Speaker to remove these remarks from the records,” Mr Rao said. This pacified the Congress MLAs.