BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal's "derogatory" comments against centenarian freedom fighter H S Doreswamy rocked the Karnataka Assembly as it met for the budget session on Monday with the ruling BJP and opposition crossing swords.
Opposition parties thronged the well of the House, demanding that they be allowed to raise the matter and forcing repeated adjournments.
The ruling BJP opposed attempts by the Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah to raise the issue, without any prior notice.
The House also witnessed Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa replying to the debate on motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint sitting of the state legislature, and also the motion getting adopted with voice vote, amid sloganeering by opposition members from the well.
Yatnal's recent comments against Doreswamy calling him a "fake freedom fighter" and "Pakistani agent" has sparked a row with opposition parties up in arms against him in the last few days.
The Congress has even been demanding revocation of his assembly membership.
According to Congress leaders, Yatnal's comments are in violation of the constitution as by disrespecting a freedom fighter like Doreswamy, he had disrespected the freedom movement, which is in "violation of our fundamental duties."
As the House met for the day, the first day of the budget session, soon after the obituary reference to departed personalities, Siddaramaiah tried to raise the issue by terming it as a matter of "urgent public importance."
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