Karna assembly adjourned sine die amid din ahead of schedule

Team Udayavani, Feb 15, 2019, 3:32 AM IST

Bengaluru: The budget session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly that was marred by protests and an audio clip controversy, was adjourned sine die on Thursday, a day ahead of its scheduled conclusion.

The session that began on February 6, with the BJP disrupting Governor Vajubhai Vala’s address to the joint sitting of the legislature, questioning the legitimacy of the government, and doubts about budget presentation, was mired in political slugfest without transacting business normally.

This is the first session in recent times, where question hour did not take place even for a single day.

All the bills, including the Finance bill, were passed amid din without any discussion.

The only issue that came up for discussion in the Assembly was allegation of “Rs 50 crore offer to book” the assembly speaker Ramesh Kumar in the audio clip involving BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa in a purported conversation to lure a JD (S) MLA in his alleged attempt to topple the Congress-JD(S) government.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has announced an SIT probe into the audio controversy.But, that too did not settle the issue, with BJPopposing the SIT probe and demanding a House committee or judicial probe the matter.

Even before the issue over the probe agency got settled, attack on BJP MLA Pritam Gowda’s residence in Hassan, allegedly by JD(S) workers rocked the assembly on Wednesday evening, with the saffron party protesting from the Well of the House, terming the coalition administration as “goonda government.” 

The issue continued to rock the assembly on Thursday too, despite Speaker ordering the government to provide adequate security for the MLA and his family.

Following this, after the passage of certain key bills including the Finance bill, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm.

Again when the House met, BJP continued its protest, calling the government “anti-democratic” and “dictatorial.” 

Amid the protest, the Speaker allowed the introduction and passage of The Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (Amendment) bill.

It makes provision for appointment of a professor with teaching experience of not less than 5 years in a medical college affiliated to the University and recognized by Medical Council of India, as the Registrar.

After the bill’s passage, the Speaker expressed displeasure about the way the session went and said, “I did not desire this..let this not happen again.” 

Pointing out that public money was at stake, he said, “My heart pains..we think twice before spending money from our pocket..this should not happen.” 

As BJP member Renukacharya remarked that Speaker should hold government responsible for it, Kumar said everyone was responsible and he was not speaking for or against any party.

He then adjourned the House sine die.

Gripped by anxiety over its errant MLAs, the Congress during the session also petitioned the Speaker requesting him to disqualify four of its rebel lawmakers under the anti-defection law for violating the whip.

The MLAs, however, attended the session since Wednesday.

According to sources, the four decided to attend the proceedings to vote in favour of the finance bill, to save themselves from the disqualification move.