Andhra assembly panel recommends Roja's suspension

Hyderabad, March 21 The privileges committee of the Andhra Pradesh assembly has recommended a one year suspension of opposition YSR Congress legislator R.K. Roja from the house.

Speaker K. Sivaprasad Rao tabled the committee's report in the house on Monday.

The report was tabled even as the legislature challenged the Hyderabad High Court's order, which stayed the assembly proceedings with regard to Roja's suspension.

While giving the interim stay last week, a single judge of the high court had made it clear that the speaker is not precluded from taking action based on the recommendations of the privileges committee.

Despite the interim orders pronounced on March 17, Roja was not allowed to attend the ongoing budget session.

The petition filed by the legislature secretary challenging the single judge's order is expected to come up for hearing before a division bench later on Monday.

The YSR Congress, on the other hand, plans to file a contempt of court petition against the government. The lone opposition party has alleged that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government is not respecting the judiciary.

Roja, the actress-turned-politician who represents Nagari constituency in Chittoor district, was suspended from the house for one year during the winter session for allegedly using abusive language against ruling party members including Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

A resolution for her suspension was adopted unanimously by a voice vote. The speaker had later referred the issue to the privileges committee.

The committee, in its report, said Roja did not appear before it though she was asked to make herself available and clarify her stand.

The panel left it to the house to take action against another YSRCP MLA Kodali Nani.

It recommended that four other YSRCP legislators be let off with a warning.