From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 4: Both the ruling BJP and Opposition Congress and JD(S) members got down to a serious debate on the Constitution after the two-day-long tussle over the controversial remarks by BJP leader Basavaraj PatilYatnal against centenarian freedom fighter H S Doreswamy in the Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday, March 4.
The members belonging to both parties pondered over the role of the three key organs of the government – legislature, executive and judiciary –and whether they have lived up to the spirit of the Constitution or encroached the powers of each other.
Assembly Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri delivered his 40-page address on “Our Constitution Our Pride” in the House amidst a protest by Opposition Congress members.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy initiated the debate on the Constitution and said the legislature has failed to meet the expectations of the people as legislators greed for power, money and authority increased over the years.
All the three organs of the government wanted to become executing authorities without understanding the powers and responsibilities given by the Constitution.
Members acknowledged the role of Sir B N Rau of Mangaluru in drafting the Constitution.
Intervening the debate, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa hailed Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar’s contributions for drawing up a Constitution that protected the rights of backward classes and the poor.
The Chief Minister appealed to members not to make derogatory remarks against Dr Ambedkar. Senior Congress member H K Patil said the level of corruption had increased due to high expenditure in elections.
“About 63% of the people get their work done in the government offices by paying bribes. The governments had declined to undertake electoral reforms to crackdown electoral malpractices, ‘’ he said.
Patilclaimed that the governments, irrespective of parties, have blatantly misused anti-corruption bodies such as Central Bureau of Investigation and Income Tax department for political advantages.
M P Rajiv of BJP recalled the history of the Indian Constitution making and said he had distributed 40,000 copies of the Preamble of the Constitution to students of his Kudachi constituency.
As many members showed interest to speak on the Constitution, the Speakerasked members to suggest apolitical topics for discussions for one or two days during the Legislature session.