Speaker Meira Kumar snubs Lagadapati

New Delhi: According to sources, Speaker Meira Kumar has her own doubts on the Seemandhra MPs claims to voluntary resignations. It is learnt that it has come to the Speaker's notice that there have been public demands for the resignations of the Seemandhra MPs.

It also came to her notice that houses of the Seemandhra MPs were also targeted by the crowds back home in their constituencies. In such a backdrop, if the individual MPs claim that their resignations are voluntary in nature and not tendered under 'duress,' it is unconvincing and lacks credibility.

Failing to meet the Speaker, L Rajagopal met Lok Sabha Secretary-General S Bal Shekhar. He was told that since the matter was sub-judice, the Speaker cannot meet him.

Rajagopal insisted that he was prepared to withdraw his petition, provided the Speaker accepts his resignation. If that was not done, he said he would resort to an agitational course.

Rajagopal had moved the Delhi High Court recently seeking direction to Speaker Meira Kumar to accept his resignation as MP. Since the Speaker has not acted on his resignation he said he was compelled to continue as member of the Lok Sabha, against his will. He urged the Delhi High Court to direct the Speaker to act on his resignation.

Rajagopal, in his petition, stated that he tendered the resignation from the Lower House voluntarily and out of free will and this was informed to the Speaker. Citing Lok Sabha Rules and provisions in the Constitution, he said the Speaker had no authority to not accept or act on the petition.

Stepping up the offensive against the Congress High Command, Rajagopal advised the party not to bank too much on the 'adopted son.'

This was an obvious dig at AICC General Secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Digvijay Singh, who described YSRCP supremo Y S Jaganmohan Reddy like his son.

After finding the adopted son, the Congress High Command has discarded the Seemandhra Congress MPs as a burden and baggage, he lamented. The Congress is going ahead on borrowed strength.

Resignations are meant to bring pressure on the Centre and Congress High Command to retract its steps towards the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, insisted Rajagopal.

Rayapati Sambasiva Rao said he had already resigned from the Congress and from Membership of Parliament.

He, too, demanded that his resignation should be accepted. If his resignation as MP was not accepted, he said he would oppose the Telangana Bill in Parliament.

If bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh was inevitable, he said, Hyderabad should be made Union Territory and Bhadrachalam should be reverted to East Godavari district.