Oppn attacks Law Minister over 'comment' on scrapping council

Opposition members in Karnataka Legislative Council today took exception to Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra's reported statement about doing away with the Upper House.
Moving a privilege motion against Jayachandra, Opposition BJP Leader K S Eshwarappa alleged that such a statement coming from a cabinet minister raised suspicion among the people of the state, especially in the backdrop of a controversy on the bill to trifurcate the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike, which has hit a roadblock in the Legislative Council.
The bill is being discussed in the Upper House, where opposition parties are in majority, after the Assembly on April 20 had passed it amid stiff opposition from BJP and JDS.

The state government had called for a special session of the legislature to get approval for the bill after failing to get Governor Vajubhai Vala's assent to an ordinance on the subject.
Both BJP and JDS are demanding that the controversial bill be referred to the select committee.
Eshwarappa sought removal of Jayachandra if he did not apologise for the reported controversial remark.

Former minister Basavaraj Horatti (JDS) said the state legislative council is being counted among the best in the country and it should not be dissolved.
Replying to the Opposition allegations, Jayachandra categorically denied making such a statement. "I just talked about the creation of the Upper House, not dissolution."

He said, "I have been in politics for 38 years, and I haven't made any such statement which brings disrepute to the Upper House and the state legislature."
"I wish the Upper House in the state continues even as other few states have done away with this august house," he said.
Council Chairman D H Shankarmurthy said he was hurt by such remarks and he would hold a meeting with Chief Minister in this regard.