Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 13: Forest minister, Ramanath Rai, who intervened during the discussions in the assembly about the suicide of deputy superintendent of police (DySP), M K Ganapathi, said that everyone knows who was responsible for DySP Kallappa's suicide. This statement gave rise to pandemonium in the assembly, and the situation was about to go out of hand as the minister and BJP legislators almost came to blows on the issue.

As a result, the state assembly witnessed flexing of muscles by its members on Tuesday, July 12.

After raising the topic of Ganapati's suicide under rule 69 in the assembly, senior BJP MLA, K G Bopaiah, was discussing the issue of Ganapati's suicide when Ramanath Rai was seen to be mumbling something at his seat.

Bopaiah, observing this, incited the minister by drawing his attention to the fact that 16 persons had died in his district because of attack by elephants, and asked him to drive away the elephants. He also advised Rai to obtain permission from the speaker if he is craving to speak in the assembly.

Angered by these comments, Rai sprang to his feet and told Bopaiah in a loud voice that there is nothing he needs to learn from the latter, as he had the experience of being a member of the assembly six times. This infuriated BJP members.

BJP MLA, laxman Savadi, who noted thar Ramanath Rai has become member of the assembly six times, also commented wryly that Gol Gumbaz has been standing in Vijayapura since 365 years. Angered by this remark, Ramanath retorted by reminding BJP members that people know the standard of BJP members, who had watched blue film by sitting inside the house. He reiterated that he had nothing to learn from the opposition.

Marshalls intervene

At this, BJP members created din in the assembly. Savadi said that he had resigned as minister on moral grounds for mistakes committed. He challenged Rai to see that minister, George, who has been accused in the suicide of police officer, Ganapati, resigns from his post. When Rai said that he knows the root cause for suicide by Kallappa Handibag, BJP members challenged him to reveal the entire story. Rai suddenly got agitated at this provocation, and tried to menacingly move towards BJP members. Incensed at this behaviour, BJP members led by opposition chief whip, Sunil Kumar, gathered at the well in front of speaker's chair and got involved with verbal duel with Rai.

Several ministers including H K Patil, H Anjaneya, R V Deshpande, Pramod Madhwaraj and several MLAs rushed to Rai's rescue. Noting that the situation was going out of control, chief minister, Siddaramaiah, shouted at the marshalls. Marshalls rushed and stopped BJP members from proceeding further. The assembly looked like war zone for sometime.

Speaker, K B Koliwad, who intervened in the matter, tried his best to control opposition members and ministrs. As the situation seemed to be heading for the worse he announced lunch recess and adjourned the session.