Standoff continues in Assembly

Opposition Congress and JD(S) today stuck to their guns in the Karnataka Assembly demanding discussion on alleged scams involving the BJP Government before staging a walkout as their confrontation with the B S Yeddyurappa-led dispensation showed no sign of abating.

As the House met today, Congress and JD(S) members trooped into the well and said recommendations of the Appachu Ranjan Committee, on the “unruly” conduct of 15 legislators during the October 11 confidence vote, was leaked to the media before being tabled in the Assembly. Citing breach of privilege, the Opposition demanded the matter to be referred to the Privileges Committee.

The motion for breach of privilege was sought to be moved by two Congress MLAs.

Speaker K G Bopaiah said he had just received the notice for the motion and would take appropriate action after examining it. The Opposition demanded that the Appachu Ranjan legislative committee report should not be placed in the House till the Privileges Committee gave its recommendations.

Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah (Congress) then sought to highlight the alleged scams and charged, “This Government has looted Rs 1 lakh crore.” As opposition members raised anti-government slogans, he said, “We have not been allowed to discuss (the alleged scams) under (Rule) 60. Yeddyurappa has to resign. The BJP government has to resign. Probe should be handed over to CBI.”

The Opposition members, who have been demanding discussion on corruption since last two days, then staged a walk-out from the House raising slogans against the government. The Speaker then conducted the proceedings as per the day’s agenda, without the presence of the Opposition.

Among the reports tabled today included the Appachu Ranjan Committee report, as also the D Hemachandra Sagar-chaired special house committee which went into the untoward incidents during the election of the Speaker on December 30, 2009.