Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 12: The ongoing deadlock between the Congress-led state government and the Opposition parties BJP and JD(S) escalated in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, with heated protests over the appointment of Congress workers to the Guarantees Implementation Committee.
As soon as the session commenced, BJP and JD(S) MLAs rushed into the Well of the House, raising slogans accusing the government of improperly appointing party workers to a critical government committee.
Speaker U.T. Khader appealed to both the ruling and Opposition parties, urging them to find a resolution, stating, "Every crisis has a solution, and this one can be solved too."
Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, emphasized his desire for a smooth session but demanded the Karnataka government address the concerns regarding the committee appointments.
BJP MLA and General Secretary, V. Sunil Kumar, suggested that the government should deduct the salaries allocated to Congress workers from the payments made to Tehsildars and other government employees who were officially tasked with the same responsibilities.
Congress MLAs retaliated, accusing the BJP and JD(S) of opposing the government’s guarantee schemes.
As the standoff continued, Speaker Khader adjourned the session until 1:45 pm.
Outside the Assembly, Opposition members staged a protest in front of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s statue on the Vidhana Soudha premises. They held placards denouncing the government, with slogans such as "Taxpayers' money eaten by Congress workers," "Shame on the Congress government for misusing public funds in the name of guarantees," and "Only consolation for people, reward for Congress workers."
The protest saw BJP state President and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, JD(S) Floor Leader C.B. Suresh Babu, and others join in.
Speaking to the media after the protest, Vijayendra accused the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led government of misappropriating taxpayer money by issuing salaries to Congress party workers. He added, "We raised this issue in the state Assembly yesterday, and now we are protesting and will also meet the Governor."
Vijayendra further alleged that defeated Congress candidates and their sons were being appointed as heads of the Guarantee Implementation Committees, even calling meetings with officers. "This unconstitutional move is being challenged in the Karnataka High Court," he said.
The BJP and JD(S) leaders emphasized the role of elected officials, such as deputy commissioners, in implementing government programs, questioning the need for Congress party workers to oversee the schemes. This, they claimed, was the root cause of their protests.