4 months ago
2
A stalemate gripped the Legislative Assembly connected Friday arsenic the Opposition members resorted to a dharna demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur implicit the allegations of large-scale irregularities successful his department.
Declaring that they would not extremity their dharna till the Minister quits, they accused the Congress dispensation of raising resources done irregularities successful the Excise Department to money the Assembly elections successful Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Leader of the Opposition successful the Assembly R. Ashok raised the contented successful the House, claiming that corruption involving respective crores of rupees had occurred successful the Department. He demanded the contiguous resignation of Mr. Thimmapur, who was contiguous successful the House.
BJP members raised slogans and sought a statement connected the alleged corruption nether an adjournment motion. Speaker U.T. Khader said the contented would beryllium taken up for treatment nether Rule 69 of the House. Amid continued sloganeering by BJP members, the House was adjourned for lunch.
When the House re-assembled aft lunch, the Opposition BJP members urged the Speaker to let them to statement the issue. Not agreeing with Mr. Khader’s proposition that the statement could beryllium taken up later, BJP subordinate V. Sunil Kumar said the contented should beryllium taken up instantly for treatment “because wealth is being raised by the Congress dispensation successful Karnataka to money the elections”.
In a pen drive
This triggered a heated speech of words betwixt the ruling and the Opposition members, with Mr. Ashok displaying a pen drive, which helium claimed contained each the details astir corruption. He challenged the authorities to initiate enactment against him if the contents of the pen thrust were not true.
Pointing retired that a ailment against the Excise Minister had been filed earlier the Lokayukta regarding alleged corruption, Mr. Sunil Kumar said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should question Mr. Thimmapur’s resignation.
The Speaker intervened to accidental that the Opposition members would beryllium allowed to statement the contented aboriginal and the authorities would respond to it.
Not satisfied, Mr. Ashok said the Congress members had earlier insisted connected resignation of BJP Ministers, including K. S. Eshwarappa, successful the erstwhile authorities successful transportation with assorted allegations adjacent earlier ordering a probe oregon a legislature debate.
Speaker’s plea
But the Speaker allowed Congress subordinate A.S. Ponnanna to proceed with the code connected question of acknowledgment to the Governor’s code to the associated session, and told the Opposition members that they would beryllium allowed to marque their submissions later.
Angered Opposition members trouped into the good of the House and commenced a dharna, raising slogans against the authorities and the Excise Minister. When his repeated pleas to retreat the disturbance did not evoke immoderate response, the Speaker adjourned the House for immoderate time.
When Opposition members resumed their protestation aft the House re-assembled, the Speaker remarked that determination was nary lawsuit of immoderate Minister tendering resignation arsenic soon arsenic immoderate protestation was staged against him. He asked the protesting members to hold for the authorities to respond.
When the Speaker asked Mr. Ponnanna to continue, the Opposition members intensified their vociferous protest, forcing him to adjourn the House till January 27.
