NEW DELHI, Mar 21: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday suspended 18 MLAs belonging to the Opposition BJP for six months for their “indiscipline and disrespectful behaviour” towards his chair during the ruckus in the House over the allegations of honey-trapping.
The 18 members, among other Opposition members, had not only indulged in a vociferous protest demanding a judicial or CBI probe into the allegations by Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna that 48 personalities, including legislators, Central leaders, and judges, had become victims of organised honey-trapping, but had also torn papers and booklets and hurled them towards the Speaker.
The suspended members are barred from attending the legislature session or entering the Assembly Hall or its gallery during this period. They are also barred from getting any allowances.
The episode unfolded even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was replying to the debate on the State Budget. The suspended members included former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan and former Ministers Byrati Basavaraj and Munirathna.
When the House re-assembled for the post-lunch session, the Speaker described the “disrespectful” behaviour of the Opposition members towards his chair as “unpardonable” and named the 18 members. Following this, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil appealed to the Speaker to suspend them. A motion in this regard was adopted through a voice vote.
Soon after this, the suspended members were physically carried out of the House by the marshals. The Opposition BJP-JD(S) combine criticised the suspension of MLAs and accused the Speaker of acting as an “agent of the ruling Congress.” Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok argued that it was unjust to crack the whip against the MLAs who were “fighting to protect the honour of the House” and Mr Rajanna, who was “helpless” after being targeted in a honey-trap attempt. “Instead of acting against the protesting MLAs, the Speaker should have initiated measures to act against those indulging in honey-trapping,” he contended.
BJP members continued their protest and again tore the legislature booklets and threw them at the Speaker. Some of them even tried to climb up the Speaker’s podium while shouting slogans against him and the government. However, marshals prevented them from reaching the Speaker. The House was adjourned sine die amid the chaos. Later the BJP members went to the Raj Bhavan and petitioned Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot in this regard.
(Manas Dasgupta)
