Independent MLAs demand Speaker’s resignation

BANGALORE: Karnataka Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah was the target of the five Independent legislators who were earlier disqualified by him, during the joint address of the Karnataka Legislature
ADDRESS: Guv H R Bhardwaj addressing the joint session of the State Assembly on Monday | Nagaraja Gadekal
ADDRESS: Guv H R Bhardwaj addressing the joint session of the State Assembly on Monday | Nagaraja Gadekal

BANGALORE: Karnataka Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah was the target of the five Independent legislators who were earlier disqualified by him, during the joint address of the Karnataka Legislature by Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj in the House on Monday.

As soon as the Governor started delivering his address, Independent MLAs, led by former minister P M Narendra Swamy, shouted slogans demanding the resignation of Bopaiah, who was seated beside the Governor on the dais.

The Governor, who, for a few seconds seemed perplexed, however, resumed his 30-page address and finished it with no further hurdles over the next 50 minutes. Later, the Independent legislators told reporters that they will continue to protest against the Speaker till he quits.

“If the Speaker has any respect for Constitutional values, he should forthwith resign from the post,” they said. Informing that the Supreme Court in its detailed verdict on the disqualification case had found serious lapses on the part of the Speaker in taking such a “harsh decision, which hurt both the MLAs and the people they represented” Narendra Swamy said, “We will not rest till the Speaker quits.”

As soon as the Governor left and the House reassembled, the Independent MLAs rushed to the well of the House and demanded the resignation of the Speaker, who was in the Chair. The Congress members,  led by Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, also supported the agitating Independent legislators and urged the Speaker to quit.

Unperturbed by the incident, the Speaker, however, adjourned the House for Tuesday, amid loud protests from the Opposition. The 26-member JD(S) group in the House, however, maintained silence on the said issue and did not support the Independents MLAs in their cause.

Guv address

■ ;Governor H R Bhardwaj in his address said that the government has resorted to purchasing power from the open market to tide over the severe power crisis

■;Contrary to Opposition charges, the financial condition of the state is sound despite the downturn of the global economy and moderation of growth of the country

■ ;Law and order situation has been very good and has not witnessed any communal violence

■ ;Deficiency of rainfall has been the worst ever in the last four decades

■ ;Global Agri Business

Investment meet

resulted in MoUs worth over Rs 60,000 crore                 

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