BJP MLAs, led by interim opposition leader Basavaraj Bommai, staged protests against the Congress over delay in implementing 5 guarantees.
BJP MLAs staged protests inside the Legislative Assembly against the ruling government for delaying in implementing the five guarantees. (Supplied)
Day 2 of the ongoing budget session in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly witnessed a huge uproar and led to four adjournments by Speaker UT Khader as BJP MLAs stormed the well to protest against the ruling Congress government at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, 4 July.
BJP legislators, led by interim Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, jumped into the well of the House and raised slogans against the Congress over the alleged delay in implementing the five guarantees made by it ahead of the Assembly elections, leading to a brief adjournment by the Speaker.
The second day’s proceedings kickstarted with the Speaker allowing the starred questions to be raised. Accordingly, Congress MLA Shivalinge Gowda rose to raise the question.
However, former chief minister Bommai demanded acceptance of an Adjournment Motion and discussion on the issue in place of the Question Hour. The Speaker repeatedly appealed to the opposition BJP to allow the Question Hour to take place, but it was to no avail.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, citing the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly, said that the Adjournment Motion has to be accepted only after the completion of Question Hour.
When BJP legislators continued their protests even after the two adjournments, Speaker Khader continued the session proceedings with resuming Question Hour and the Call Attention Motion.
Soon after the Call Attention Motion, the Speaker adjourned the House till Wednesday morning. Khader also announced the extension of the Assembly session till 21 July instead of 14 July, as decided earlier.
While the BJP state headquarters witnessed hectic political activities in a bid to elect the opposition leader of the Legislative Assembly, the saffron cadre created huge uproar in the ongoing budget session in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
While Basavaraj Bommai led the protests in the Legislative Assembly, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary led the protests in the Legislative Council.
Following the uproar, BJP MLA R Ashoka accused the Congress government of “cheating” people in the name of the five guarantees. Soon, other BJP legislators too raised the issue and demanded that their submission be allowed first.
When Speaker Khader decided to go ahead with the Question Hour, the BJP leaders stormed the well and raised slogans against the Siddaramaiah-led government.
Earlier in the day, the BJP, under the headship of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, staged a demonstration against the Congress government for not implementing all the guarantees promised by them at Freedom Park.
Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, reiterated that the government is ready to answer to all the concerns and questions of the opposition, and appealed the BJP leaders to allow the session to work as per the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly.
However, the BJP MLAs were firm to make a submission about the “failure” in implementation of the five promises.
Appealing to BJP MLAs to give up its adamant posture, Siddaramaiah said, “The session has to be run as per the rules of the House. The government is ready to answer all the questions of the opposition.”
He added, “Thus, the opposition’s demand has to be accepted only after the Question Hour. In my five-year tenure as an opposition leader, I have always demanded for the acceptance of Adjournment Motion only after the Question Hour. I never went against the laws.”
When BJP MLAs intensified their demand before the speaker, Shivakumar said, “BJP leaders are unable to tolerate the success of the five guarantees. Let the Question Hour happen. Then we will hear their (BJP’s) pearls of wisdom.”
“Whether the BJP ever fulfilled its promise of depositing ₹15 lakh in everyone’s bank account and bringing back black money parked overseas, we are committed to our promises and we will fulfil them,” reiterated the Deputy Chief Minister.
Amidst chaos, Speaker Khader went ahead with the Question Hour and, later, allowed the documents of various departments to be tabled in the House. Later, the House was adjourned for lunch break.
The BJP MLAs again stood in the well of the House, raising slogans. The Speaker’s appeal to the BJP leaders to return to their chairs fell onto deaf ears. The unruly behaviour of members forced him to adjourn the House for a brief period.
When the proceedings were restarted, the BJP once again continued its sloganeering. The opposition even accused the Speaker of being partial towards the Congress.
MLA Ashoka appealed to Speaker Khader not to favour a party, to which he retorted that he was impartial. “I am neither this side nor that side. I am only on the side of the law,” Khader replied.
Amidst the commotion, the Speaker invoked the Call Attention Motion and, later, he adjourned the House till Wednesday morning.
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