In what appears to be the closure of three month-old conflict between ruling TDP and the Opposition YSRC, suspended MLA KR Roja is said to tendered apology to V Anitha, Telugu Desam Party MLA from Payakaraopeta. This is expected to pave way for the lifting of the suspension imposed on the Roja for one year.
RK Roja, MLA from Nagari constituency, Chittoor district, was suspended from the Assembly for one year, following the language and remarks she allegedly used against chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and Payakarao Peta MLA V Anitha. The issue had been referred to the privileges committed headed by MLA Gollapalli Suryarao. Though some of her colleagues’ cases had also been referred to privileges committee, the charges against them had been withdrawn following their apology. But, Roja, declined to tender apology and skipped three meetings of the committee. Finally, she agreed to attend the meeting today. Till the other day, she used to maintain that she would never tender apology as she didn’t do any wrong.
But, in today’s meeting, Roja apologized to Anita, who was the target of Roja’s abusive attack on the floor of the House. After the meeting, MLA Bandaru Satyanarayana told media that Roja tendered apology to Anitha. According to Satyanarayana, the issue was closed.. The government is likely to move the process to lift the ban imposed on the Nagari MLA.
Talking to media after the meeting, committee chairman Surya Rao said Roja had assured Anitha that she would apologize to the TDP MLA if the latter felt hurt.
” We have taken Roja version and it will be incorporated in the report of the committee. The report will be submitted to the speaker after another round of meeting” Surya Rao said.
The suspension issue derailed the proceedings many times in the House and led to several adjournments of the House during budget session. The suspension was challenged in the court while High Court single judge bench stayed the suspension which was not honored by the Assembly. Later the Assembly appealed against the single judge ruling in the division bench which set aside the stay order. The matter is now in Supreme Court.