From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Dec 15: Opposition BJP and JDS were engaged in a slanging match against the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government withdrawal of consent to CBI for investigating the Disproportionate Assets Case against Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in the State Legislative Assembly in Belagavi on Friday.

The combined opposition members sought permission from Speaker U T Khader to debate the issue through an adjournment motion that has censuring clause. Leader of Opposition R Ashok, who sought to move the adjournment motion by making preliminary submission on the admissibility of the motion, argued that the State Government should have left the decision on withdrawal of consent to the courts, which were already looking into the issue.

Ashok criticised the withdrawal of consent to the CBI to probe against Shivakumar and contended that it would set a bad precedent. However, intervening during the preliminary submissions, Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said the issue should not be taken up for discussion in the Assembly as it was sub-judice as it was before the court. Also, it was an issue pertaining to an individual which did not merit discussion in the Assembly, he maintained.

Enraged by the Home Minister’s reply, the Opposition members wondered why the State Cabinet took it up on priority as it was just a matter pertaining to an individual. Senior BJP members V Sunil Kumar and S Suresh Kumar asked the government to clarify the State Cabinet’s priority.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao too intervened and maintained that the State Cabinet had withdrawn the consent given for probe as the erstwhile BJP government had given the consent out of political vendetta. This further angered the argument between the Opposition and the ruling benches.

Finally, Speaker U T Khader denied permission to the Opposition to raise the issue through an adjournment motion on the ground that the matter was before the court and it was an issue pertaining to an individual.

Even in the Legislative Council, Chairman Basavaraj Horatti did not allow the Opposition BJP to discuss the decision of the State government. When BJP member Kota Srinivas Poojary requested permission to move an adjournment motion, the Chairman said when the matter is pending before the court, discussion over the same cannot be allowed Discussing an issue seized by the courts will be a contempt of court, he held.

Law Minister H K Patil pointed out that rules of the House will not allow them to raise the matter by moving an adjournment motion. “It is morally, technically and legally not correct,” he said.

Politics, not development is priority for opposition: DKS

Speaking to media persons outside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi later, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the opposition BJP and JDS were interested in politics and not development. ``If the opposition does not want to discuss issues pertaining to the people and their problems, what can we do? The government will carry on with its developmental work,’’ he said.

Answering questions from the media on the participation of non-Congress members, including BJP legislators, in the dinner hosted by the Congress party, he said: ``In weddings and other good occasions as also in dinners, leaders participate irrespective of political affiliations. Is there anything wrong if BJP or JDS legislators speak to me? We may have political differences but maintain cordial relationship.’’

Shivakumar said the government opposition leaders for discussion of some sensitive issues and not interested in politics do not attend such meetings. "We can’t do anything if members from other parties do not attend meetings or participate in dinners as all of us have to eat. Some come and others don’t. That is up to them. We invite people who are close to us. What is wrong in that,’’ he asked.

He, however, declined to answer a question on Congress MLA Prasad Abbayya seeking renaming of the Mysuru airport after the Tiger of Mysore Tippu Sultan.