Revanna Charges Bopaiah of Claiming Salaries of Speaker, Deputy Speaker

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 25: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah, who is in the eye of a storm over his controversial action of disqualifying as many as 16 MLAs, including 11 from the ruling BJP, hours before the crucial floor test of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on October 11 morning, is now accused of drawing the salaries and allowances of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker’s posts.
 
The JD(S) floor leader in the Assembly and former minister H D Revanna, who leveled this startling allegation against the Speaker, has urged Governor H R Bhardwaj to initiate appropriate action against the assembly presiding officer for misusing the office.
 
Revanna, elder son of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and brother of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, claimed that Bopaiah has drawn salaries of two months - November and December, 2009 - for both posts.

It may be recalled that Bopaiah’s predecessor Jagadish Shettar had his post on November 17, 2009 and was later inducted into the Yeddyurpapa cabinet as Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister. Bopaiah, who was deputy speaker under Shettar, was elevated as the Speaker on December 30, 2009. However, the deputy speaker’s post has remained vacant till date.

Revanna alleged that Bopaiah had drawn the Speakers’ salary of Rs. 12,000, house rent allowances of Rs. 20,000, house maintenance allowance of Rs. 5,000, and vehicle allowance of Rs. 25060 for months of November and December, 2009 besides drawing the salary and allowances of the Deputy Speaker’s post for both months.

The JD (S) alleged that “Bopaiah accepts resignations of MLAs during the midnight” and has been drawing rent allowances by staying in a government bungalow. He insulted the office of the Speaker by misusing the office, Revanna contended.

Stating that the party would initiate a legal action against Bopaiah for misusing the office, Revanna said the Karnataka Lokayukta should conduct a probe into the misuse of facilities by the Speaker.

Instead of acting as a guarding of all legislators cutting across all political parties, "Bopaiah is acting like an agent of the ruling BJP," the JD(S) leader said.

The speaker should discharge his duties impartially and take steps to protect rights and privileges of all members of the Assembly, Revanna said.

The JD (D) leader urged the Governor to take suitable action against Bopaiah for drawing salaries of two posts by blatantly misusing the office.

Speaker denies charges

However, the Speaker K G Bopaiah stoutly denied the allegations leveled by Revanna and termed them as "rubbish” and indicated that he would file a defamation case against him.

"I have not drawn salaries of two posts. In fact, I have been claiming minimum house allowances of Rs 20,000 per month though I am eligible for maximum Rs 50,000," Bopaiah said.