From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 22: Launching a frontal attack on the principal opposition Congress party in both houses of State Legislature, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday, February 22 termed the Congress party’s protest and dharna leading to curtailment of the rights of members to participate in the debate and failure to voice the problems of the people was nothing but a “black spot” in the history of Karnataka legislature.

In his reply to the motion of thanks to the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for his address to the State legislature, Bommai said: “I am pained by the Congress protest” and “for the first time in the history of the legislature” the motion of thanks was passed without a debate.

The Congress was “unfit” to become both ruling and the opposition party, he said and blamed the Congress leaders for creating a vicious atmosphere in schools and colleges of the State on the hijab controversy.

“We behaved very responsibly when we were in the Opposition,” Bommai said and deplored the Congress protest seeking resignation of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa for his remarks earlier that the saffron flag could in future, fly in place of the Tricolour on Red Fort.

Strongly defending Eshwarappa, he said the Congress held its protest for political benefits but warned that it would not help the Congress.

The Chief Minister charged the Congress party of abdicating its responsibility as the opposition party in raising the problems of the people or even discussed the statement of Eshwarappa. The ruling party is and was always prepared to give answers on the floor of the legislature. Instead of doing what they were required to do the Congress members are wasting valuable time and simply sleeping inside Vidhana Soudha, alleged Bommai.

The Opposition party failed in responding to several public issues grappling with the State. “The Congress not only betrayed the interest of the people and also the State by not debating in the Governor's address, '' Bommai said.

Noting the murder of a Hindu activist in Shivamogga, the Chief Minister asked the Congress members: “Who is responsible for the murder of the youth?”

Bommai said the objective of the Congress was to disturb peace in the State. The people of the State would not forgive the Congress for its many mistakes, the chief minister said.

The Chief Minister asked the Congress party not to view everything in political terms. The politics of hatred would not bring any political gains for the party and its leaders in future. The legislature session was scheduled to be held till Friday. But they compelled it to be cut short abruptly today itself. It is really sad.

The opposition leaders frequently demand for a legislature session to discuss issues of public importance. But when the house is convened they are not ready to participate. They could have highlighted any failures of the government during the debate on the Governor's address to the joint session. But that did not happen.

He said the opposition is trying to mislead the house and the people by staging a dharna. The High Court is hearing intense arguments on the dress code issue. An interim order has already been passed. It is being implemented. Some people are trying to create confusion at this stage. They could have maintained calm and sent a united message of peace as education of our children in most important. For them politics has become more important.

“The leader of the opposition and the president of Congress party are seniors. They are in politics for a long time now. People would have appreciated them if they had worked as a matured opposition party,” Bommai said.

He also highlighted several achievements of the government during the last two pandemic years and administration of vaccines to 130 crore people in the country.

The government has released compensation for families impacted by the Covid-19 induced lockdowns and flood affected farmers in different districts. Funds were released to 17 lakh farmers under the PM Kisan Yojana and 4.52 lakh students belonging to farming families had been given scholarships ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 11,000.

Later, speaking to the media representatives after the adjournment of the session, the Chief Minister regretted that the anti-conversion bill could not be passed nor was it discussed in detail.

Answering questions from the media, the Chief Minister said he was not aware of BJP national president J P Nadda reportedly criticising Eshwarappa and promising to take action. “I will ascertain facts first,” he said pointing out that his cabinet colleague had not said anything to insult or denigrate the national flag if the entire statement is taken into consideration.

When pointed out that the Congress party is submitting memorandum to the Governor against Eshwarappa’s statement, Bommai said: “They could have done it earlier instead of forcing curtailment of the session with their politically motivated dharna.’’

Earlier, the Chief Minister met the representatives of Anganawadi workers, coffee growers and a delegation of the Brahmins besides Srisailam Saranga Math Jagadguru Dr Sarangadhara Deshikendra Mahaswamy.