Karnataka: BJP, JDS storm assembly well, Siddaramaiah calls it ploy to cover up infighting

Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday slammed the opposition BJP and JDS MLAs for their dharna in the assembly, calling it a ploy to divert attention from the infighting within their party and the Centre’s failure to provide drought relief.

“The main purpose of building a golden building in Belgaum with people's tax money and holding a legislative session once a year is to discuss and find solutions to the burning problems of North Karnataka. The BJP MLAs of the state have proved that they are the opponents of North Karnataka by not allowing such a discussion,” he said.

He taunted the BJP, saying the new Leader of Opposition R Ashoka does not have the support of his own party. “The BJP MLAs who cannot face this are disrupting the proceedings with the intention of diverting the attention of the people of the state…Opposition parties have to do the job of pointing out if the government has failed in its duty or made mistakes,” he said.


The opposition BJP and JDS held a dharna in the Belagavi assembly on Monday, demanding the sacking of Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan over his remarks related to the Speaker’s chair. In the run up to the Telangana polls, Khan had reportedly tried to appeal to the Muslim community in a campaign by saying that the Congress has made BJP lawmakers bow before the Muslim by making UT Khader as Speaker.

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and other BJP legislators launched the protest as soon as Khan rose to respond to a query during the Question Hour in the state legislature. BJP and JDS MLAs stormed the well of the house and held a protest for the rest of the day. “He [Khan] has brought disrepute to the Speaker’s chair,” said Ashoka.

Leaders on both sides vociferously argued the matter, with Congress leaders insisting that Khan had not used any unconstitutional language. Siddaramaiah questioned the protesting MLAs, asking why they hadn’t raised the issue when the assembly session began a week ago. Revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda attacked the BJP for “dividing the society.”

BJP leaders countered by attacking the Congress, accusing the party of insulting Hindus. “Congress considers Hindus as second-class citizens,” said Ashoka. He also slammed the party for “introducing a religious bias to the Speaker’s post.”

The government passed five bills after Speaker UT Khader pushed ahead with the day's agenda instead of adjourning the session, after protestors refused to get back into their seats.