From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Sep 15: Facing the opposition onslaught over the alleged irregularities and charge of corruption in the recruitment of police sub inspects, the State Government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that it was ready for discussion of the alleged scam, including police recruitments in the past.
The House witnessed a heated debate between ruling BJP and Congress members when Congress Opposition leader Siddaramaiah sought to move an adjournment motion on the PSI scam as well as various corruption charges against the Basavaraj Bommai regime to enable a threadbare discussion, which was stoutly opposed by the government.
Siddaramaiah said he would raise issues related to the alleged PSI scam without going into the merit of the case.
"It is the duty and responsibility of the Opposition to raise the issue which has been receiving wide publicity in the media. There were several allegations of involvement of legislators and ministers in the scam. It is shameful that an IPS officer of ADGP rank Amrit Paul had been arrested along with other policemen," the former Chief Minister said.
Law and Parliamentary Minister J C Madhuswamy said the issue raised by the Congress is not a recent development and therefore it was not a fit case for discussion under the adjournment motion.
Congress members M B Patil, R V Deshpande, Ramalinga Reddy and Priyank Kharge continued to interrupt, Madhuswamy said: "I wish to convince the Speaker on whether the matter could be discussed under Rule 60 or not. It is left to the chair to take a decision."
The minisiter said the notice given by the Congress should have mentioned the names of legislators and ministers involved in the alleged scam.
"We are ready to discuss the PSI recruitment and throw light on the police recruitment in the past too," he said asserting that, "We are proud, our Home Minister has ordered a probe into the recruitment process, we arrested ADGP. You (Congress) only indulge in political speeches," the law minister said.
Madhuswamy said many members would participate and wider debate would take place if the issue was taken up for discussion under the different rule of the House.
Siddaramaiah said it is not a political platform for political speeches. "We can also make political speeches," he said.
The legislature session was convened after the budget session (after six months) and demanded discussion on the alleged PSI scam.
The Congress leader demanded a judicial probe to look into all recruitment of police since 2006 as his party has nothing to hide.
Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri rejected the discussion under the adjournment motion and said a debate on a different rule would be taken up.