From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 27: Buoyed by the recognition it received from Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa as the principal opposition party in the House after former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and his three KJP MLAs into its ranks, the BJP which had stalled proceedings in the Assembly over the death of the slain sub-inspector Mallikarjun Bande during a gun fight in Gulbarga recently by observing dharna and continued it on Monday finally agreed to withdraw it.
The withdrawal of dharna was announced by BJP Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar after the State Government promised to table a status report on the death of police sub-inspector Mallikarjun Bande during a gun fight with an alleged contract killer Munna Darbadar in Gulbarga in the House.
As soon as the House met, the BJP continued its dharna demanding a CBI probe into the death of Bande and transfer of Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Mohammed Wazir Ahmed.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, however, rejected the demands.
The issue sparked off a heated debate between members of the Opposition and the ruling Congress, forcing Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa adjourn the House for 30-minutes.
After working out a compromise formula between ruling and opposition members in the Speaker’s chamber, Home Minister K J George told the House that the Government would table the status report in the House before conclusion of the session on January 30.
Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the BJP has been politicising the death of sub-inspector Bande to gain political mileage.
The issue would not benefit the BJP politically and the Opposition would be held responsible for disruption of the proceedings, he said.
Siddaramaiah said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was conducting the probe and action would be taken against the IG Wazir after the probe was completed and based on the findings of the report.
Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar alleged that Bande was suffering from mental harassment and statements made by Mallamma, widow of Bande, were primary evidence.