Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal criticised the BJP on Sunday for boycotting the oath-taking ceremony of newly-elected legislators in Telangana. The protest was led by the BJP MLAs who objected to the appointment of AIMIM's Akbaruddin Owaisi as the pro-tem speaker, alleging a violation of rules.
The first session of the third Telangana Legislative Assembly commenced on Saturday with the customary oath-taking ceremony. However, BJP MLAs chose to stay away from the House, expressing their discontent over Owaisi's appointment.
In response to this move, Kapil Sibal took to X to share his views. He stated, "Telangana, Protem Speaker Akbaruddin Owaisi—8 BJP MLAs boycott oath. Such a public expression of hate makes me wonder where my country is heading!"
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"Is this the Mother of Democracy we publicly proclaim to be!" the former Union minister said.
Why did the BJP boycott the oath-taking ceremony of Owaisi?
Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan administered the oath to All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi as a pro tem Speaker on Saturday.
In a video message, BJP MLA-elect from Goshamahal, Raja Singh, explained their decision not to participate in the ceremony with Owaisi presiding. Singh cited Owaisi's past anti-Hindu remarks as the primary reason, declaring that he would not take the oath in front of someone who had made such comments.
Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy supported the move, stating, "There is a tradition of a senior person being appointed as the pro-tem Speaker in the Assembly. The BJP opposes the appointment of AIMIM's Akbaruddin Owaisi as pro-tem Speaker as per an understanding (of Congress) with AIMIM."
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Who is a protem speaker?
Pro-tem Speaker is a temporary speaker appointed for a limited time period to conduct proceedings in Parliament or State legislatures. A pro-tem Speaker is ordinarily elected for the first sitting of a new legislative assembly where the Speaker is yet to be elected.
