http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/03/stories/2008040357920100.htm
Front Page TDP chief faces the 'heat' over remarks against Deputy Speaker Special Correspondent Naidu says no disrespect meant to her, withdraws remarks HYDERABAD: Events took a totally unexpected turn during the no confidence debate in the Assembly on Wednesday when Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu found himself in the dock over his remarks against Deputy Speaker G. Kutuhalamma, a Scheduled Caste member, while she was conducting the proceedings. There was bedlam as a large delegation of Ministers, woman and SC members of the Congress later petitioned Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy to have Mr. Naidu booked under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and expel him from the House. They accused Mr. Naidu of saying that the Deputy Speaker was unfit to run the House. They said the TDP leader threatened to stall the proceedings till Mr. Suresh Reddy took over and decided on his plea to continue the debate on Thursday. The storm subsided after two hours when Mr. Naidu unconditionally withdrew his remarks about the Deputy Speaker. This restored normalcy in the House and facilitated the Chief Minister's response to the no confidence motion at 10.10 pm. Inside the House earlier, TDP members rushed to the podium upon which Ms. Kutuhalamma adjourned the House for ten minutes. She later expressed her wish to put in her papers over the "humiliation meted out" to her. In a related development, Marketing Minister M. Mareppa launched a flash hunger strike at the Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises which he called off later. Incensed at the "objectionable remarks" made by Mr. Naidu, Ministers and women members took out a procession from the Speaker's chambers to the Congress Legislature Party office. Speaking to reporters later, Ministers G. Surya Rao, Koneru Ranga Rao, Geetha Reddy and G. Aruna Kumari wanted Mr. Naidu to tender an unconditional apology for his remarks. Taken aback The Telugu Desam leader procured a CD of the proceedings and showed it to Opposition leaders and the media and said it clearly showed he did not make any disparaging remark against Ms. Kutuhalamma. Taken aback by the sudden political twist to the marathon debate, he accused Finance Minister K. Rosaiah of "distorting" his comments and trying to gain mileage by provoking division on caste lines. When the House resumed, Mr. Naidu said he meant no disrespect to her and would be happy if the Government appointed her as Speaker. At the members' insistence, the Speaker invited Ms. Kutuhalamma to take over the chair. However, Ms. Geetha Reddy urged her not to allow the proceedings until Mr. Naidu tendered unconditional apology. Ms. Kutuhalamma said she would leave the matter to the wisdom of TDP members and said "they behaved just like the Kauravas did with Draupadi".
