KSRTC bus driver suicide bid sparks uproar in Karnataka Assembly: Opposition wants agriculture minister to quit

“This shows that government employees are in trouble. This is what people are talking about daily,” he added.

Minister Chaluvarayaswamy refuted the allegations and blamed former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and his JD(S) party workers for politicising the issue.

Meanwhile, the fourth day of the session kick-started by unanimously electing the three-time Congress MLA from Haveri, Rudrappa Lamani, as the Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly.

Also Read: BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s phone number used to demand money

Kumaraswamy demands resignation 

Kumaraswamy came down heavily on Chaluvarayaswamy and demanded his resignation over the suicide attempt.

“The wife of the KSRTC employee who attempted suicide by consuming poison is a panchayat member and, hence, pressure has been exerted unnecessarily on him,” Kumaraswamy alleged.

Citing the “suicide note”, he claimed: “The employee has accused Chaluvarayaswamy of transferring him. The driver has said he was not aware why the minister was angry with him. He has held the minister responsible.”

“The evidence and documents related to the case are being destroyed and false accusations are made against him that the KSRTC employee misbehaved with a passenger.”

“The government has to launch an investigation in the matter. The agriculture minister has to resign until the investigation is over,” Kumaraswamy said.

KJ George episode

The JD(S) leader cited the case of Deputy Superintendent of Police MK Ganapathy’s suicide in July 2016, which forced the then home minister KJ George to resign as the police officer had named him.

Similarly, BJP minister KS Eshwarappa had resigned when a contractor committed suicide accusing him of demanding 40 per cent commission.

Reacting to Kumaraswamy, George, now the energy minister, said: “The CBI gave me a clean chit in the DySP suicide case but Kumaraswamy did not show any courtesy to apologise for defaming him.”

“The JD(S) leader is roaming around with a pen drive about some evidence, which he should make public,” demanded George.

The minister was referring to Kumaraswamy displaying a pen drive during a media interaction on Wednesday where he claimed that he had evidence of large scale “transfer business” (corruption) going on in the government.

Soon the ruling Congress MLAs and the Opposition BJP and the JD(S) were seen resorting to arguments leading to a commotion.

Some BJP MLAs then charged the government with collecting commission, which caused further acrimony.

As the Opposition appeared to be preparing for a dharna in the well of the Assembly over the issue, Speaker Khader adjourned the House.

Also Read: K’taka govt turning blind eye to fake apps of poll guarantee schemes

Minister refutes allegation

After the Opposition leaders demanded his resignation, Minister Chaluvarayaswamy refuted the allegations and said he had no role to play in the transfer of the KSRTC bus driver-cum-conductor Jagadish.

Chaluvarayaswamy said: “I have neither called any officials of KSRTC nor written a letter asking to transfer Jagadish.”

“After he was transferred, one of his relatives, who is known to me, requested me to revoke the transfer order. I spoke with the officials concerned and asked them to submit a report on the matter.”

“I had also told his relative to wait for two days. In the meantime, Jagadish threatened of committing suicide if the transfer order was not revoked. He tried to commit suicide and was rushed to the hospital,” the agriculture minister contended.

Related: Gov Gehlot speaks of institutionalised corruption in Assembly address

‘Opposition politicising issue’

Accusing JD(S) leaders of politicising, the minister said: “The JD(S) leaders, including Kumaraswamy, have tried to politicise this incident. When Jagadish’s family were taking him to another hospital for better treatment, Kumaraswamy spoke with the family over the phone and asked them not to shift him to another hospital.”

“The family immediately sought support from the police and shifted him to a private hospital in Mysuru. Even while he was being shifted to another hospital in an ambulance, JD(S) former MLA Suresh Gowda tried to stop the ambulance midway.”

“This clearly shows the intent of the JD(S) leaders that they are more concerned about reaping political benefits out of this incident instead of saving the life of a driver. I have no role to play in the incident,” added Chaluvarayaswamy.

Meanwhile, Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy said: “(The driver) was transferred as a part of an administrative exercise and not because of the interference of the minister. The KSRTC officials have not received any letter from the minister on the matter.”

“I will speak with the officials concerned to investigate the incident. I assure the House that action will be taken against the culprits,” Reddy said.

Also Read: SIT to reinvestigate Bitcoin scam: Home Minister Parameshwara

Rudrappa Lamani elected as Deputy Speaker

Meanwhile, three-time Congress MLA Rudrappa Lamani has been elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

He will be the 25^th Deputy Speaker of the House. He represents the Haveri Assembly seat. He was also a Cabinet minister in the previous Congress government.

ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆಯ ಉಪಸಭಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾಗಿ ಸರ್ವಾನುಮತದಿಂದ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯಾದ ಶಾಸಕ ರುದ್ರಪ್ಪ ಲಮಾಣಿ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಹೃದಯಪೂರ್ವಕ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು.

ತಮ್ಮ ಕಾರ್ಯಾವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಹಿತಾಸಕ್ತಿಯ ವಿಷಯ-ವಿಚಾರಗಳ ಚರ್ಚೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸದನದ ಸರ್ವಸದಸ್ಯರು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಳ್ಳುವಂತಾಗಲಿ, ಸಂವಿಧಾನ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರಜಾಪ್ರಭುತ್ವದ ಆಶಯಗಳನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿಹಿಡಿಯುವ ಕೆಲಸವಾಗಲೆಂದು… pic.twitter.com/tSrbuIo9Um

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) July 6, 2023

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar extended wishes to Lamani after he was declared as the Deputy Speaker.

“I had a desire to become a Cabinet minister but the party asked me to take up the Deputy Speaker position. I accept the post happily,” said Lamani.

Earlier, the grand-old-party had opted for Chamarajanagar MLA C Puttarangashetty for the position, but he refused.

(With PTI inputs)