BANGALORE: Speaker K G Bopaiah has ordered a probe into the porn-gate, which rocked the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, besides barring the three former ministers from attending the proceedings of the Assembly till the probe is completed. Rejecting the Opposition’s demand for ‘on-the-spot disqualification of the erring ministers’, Bopaiah announced that a six-member inquiry committee consisting of members from all parties will be set up to look into the incident. “The committee will be asked to submit its report before March 12, 2012. The report will be tabled before the House,” the Speaker said.
The Speaker has also ordered issuance of show-cause notices to all three former ministers asking them to file their replies before 10.30 am on February 13, 2012.
While ordering the probe, the Speaker quoted the then Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision with regard to a ‘cash-for-question’ scam that rocked Lok Sabha in December 2005. The Lok Sabha Speaker had said: “I have no manner of doubt that all sections of the House feel deeply concerned about it. I know that we should rise to the occasion and see that such an event does not occur ever in future. If anybody is guilty, he should be punished. Nobody will be spared. We shall certainly respond to it in a manner which behoves us.”
However, the Opposition parties — Congress and JD(S) — have opposed the Speaker’s decision terming it as ‘arbitrary, unilateral and undemocratic’ and said they would not participate in the committee. The Opposition’s stand was the result of the stiff resistance they faced in Assembly from the Treasury Bench to debate the issue.
“Our rights have been curtailed by the Government and Speaker. We are not allowed to speak on an issue which involves the dignity of the House. So we will boycott the committee,” said Opposition Leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah.