High Drama in State Assembly as JD(S) Produces 'Documentary Evidence'
Bangalore, Jan 12 (PTI): Amid high drama, JD(S) members today attempted to enter the Karnataka Assembly in a procession blowing conch shell and carrying a big suitcase with documents claimed to be evidence of corruption against the BJP Government.
Apparently to hit back at Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who yesterday threatened to expose former prime minister H D Devegowda family's "misdeeds" with documentary evidence, JD(S) members came armed with the "documents" relating to BJP Government's alleged scams.
JD(S) members, led by H D Revanna, son of Devegowda, came in a procession blowing conch shell and beating a bronze cymbal and tried to enter the Assembly, but were prevented by marshals who also refused entry to some party MLAs holding placards.
Speaker K G Bopaiah who was not aware of the JD(S) protest, ordered the marshals to allow the MLAs to come in after Opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah brought the incident of denial of their entry to his notice.
As a group of MLAs brought a big sized suitcase and displayed placards against the government, a shocked Speaker ordered marshals to remove the materials from the House.
"Yesterday the Chief Minister brought a suitcase and showed to the House that he had documents against Devegowda and his sons. Today we have brought documents over Yeddyurappa's scandals," Revanna and his party colleague H C Balakrishna said defending their action.
When the House plunged into pandemonium, Bopaiah warned JD(S) members that he would name them while Law Minister S Suresh Kumar rose to move a motion for their suspension.
Siddaramaiah said this was not for the first time that placards had made way into the House and pointed out that during the Bharat Bandh last year, the Speaker had permitted BJP members to protest holding placards.
This apparently made the BJP government to drop plans to get some JD(S) members suspended.
Seven bills passed despite pandemonium
The Congress and JD-S today boycotted proceedings of the Karnataka Assembly protesting the ''attitude'' of the ruling BJP which transacted official and legislative business ignoring opposition dharna.
Amid slogan shouting and dharna for the third consecutive day, seven bills including, the Karnataka Appropriation Bill, 2011, were adopted. The appropriation bill authorises the state government to withdraw Rs 5060.41 crore.
The opposition has been demanding acceptance of its adjournment notice to discuss alleged land scams and corruption.As Speaker K G Bopaiah took up Question Hour, laying of papers on the table and bills, rejecting the opposition's appeal for not transacting business, Congress and JD-S said they would boycott proceedings. They then walked out, shouting slogans against the Government.
"It is nothing but murder of democracy. The Speaker has also joined hands with the Government," opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah said before leading the walkout by his party and JD-S members.
The House then took up the motion to thank the Governor for his address to the joint sitting on January 6.
The Speaker then adjourned the House for for the day.Suresh Gowda (BJP) sought to move a breach of privilege notice against JD-S leader and MP H D Kumaraswamy for making certain remarks denigrating the Assembly.
Gowda said the former Chief Minister's remarks lowered the image of the House and its members.Bopaiah said he would write to the Lok Sabha Speaker on the issue.
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