Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Jul 23: When the issue of providing 'Zero Traffic' to the 10 rebel MLAs, who had arrived from Mumbai to tender their resignation to the speaker of the assembly as per the guideline given by the Supreme Court, was mooted by A T Ramaswamy of JD(S) in the assembly, it created furore in the legislative assembly on Monday, July 22.

A T Ramaswamy said, "There should be clarity on the protocol that is followed by the home department of the state. Clarity should be given as to who and for what reason 'Zero Traffic' facility was provided for the ten disgruntled MLAs to arrive from HAL airport in the city to the Vidhana Soudha and also when they returned back to the HAL airport? No one is above the law. Clarification should be given on this matter."

As the reply given by the home minister M B Patil, to the query of Ramaswamy was not clear, speaker Ramesh Kumar asked the home minister to clarify whether Zero Traffic was provided to the rebel MLAs and if so, who ordered it? To this instruction from the speaker, the home minister Patil said that Zero Traffic facility was not provided and no one has given any order in this regard and sat down on his bench.

The speaker, who got furious by the lacklustre attitude and answer from the home minister took class of him and said, "Just think whether your answer is acceptable to your conscience? It is well-known that the rebel MLAs were provided with Zero Traffic when they arrived in the city from Mumbai to resign. So is it okay to provide Zero Traffic facility to any one? Is it okay to give a facility that is reserved for selected VIPs including the chief minister and governor of the state? There is no need of providing the same for patriots and other eminent persons of the society. Let it be given for people who have done other works."

H K Patil of Congress, who supported the view of the speaker also said that it is not correct to give statement in the assembly by covering up the truth. A T Ramaswamy of JD (S), who had sought the clarification on the issue, expressed his anguish and said whether he needs to be present in the assembly after hearing such an irresponsible answer from the home minister. Later, home minister M B Patil informed that he will give information on this matter after getting the details from the concerned officials in the home department.

Director General of Police (DGP) of the state Neelamani Raju and city police commissioner Alok Kumar, who met the speaker in his chamber later, gave the information on this matter. The speaker clarified the issue in the assembly and said that Zero Traffic was not provided to the rebel MLAs, who had come to tender their resignation in person to the governor and even the governor had not given any instruction in this regard.