BENGALURU: The curtains came down on the 14th Assembly on an acrimonious note on Friday as the House was adjourned sine die after it passed the Finance Bill (Budget) following Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s reply to the debate on the Budget. With his term as CM coming to an end in May, he is also set to attain the distinction of being the first CM to complete a full five-year term in the last four decades, after D Devaraj Urs.
The CM’s reply sounded more like a farewell speech as the term of his government is coming to an end and the members will head for the poll battle. “We will again be voted to power, “ he asserted and wished that all the 224 members get elected again. He profusely thanked the leaders of opposition parties and all the members for cooperating in conducting the business of the House. He took pride in pointing out that he presented six budgets as CM and equalled the record of Ramakrishna Hegde, and having presented 13 budgets in all.
The House witnessed acrimonious scenes for most part of the last day with Congress and BJP members trading allegations and counter-allegations while the CM was replying to the discussions on the State budget for 2018-19. Speaker K B Koliwad had to adjourn the House twice amidst noisy scenes and dharna by the BJP members The BJP members trooped to the well of the House objecting to a comment made by Congress member K N Rajanna who held BJP government responsible for the banking sector scams involving Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya. This led to angry exchange of words between the opposition and ruling benches leading to adjournment of the House for a brief while even as the CM was giving his reply.
After the House reassembled, the BJP members tore the bills that were to be passed.
The CM continued his reply and accused the BJP of harbouring ‘goonda culture’ and not the Congress. He came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of being a ‘facilitator of corruption’. The PM was instigating and sponsoring corruption at the Centre, he charged. He said the Rs 2.09 lakh crore budget will be implemented in full.
With the BJP members continuing their dharna, the Speaker put to vote the Appropriation Bill for three months amounting to Rs 5,351 crore and other bills like the Banavasi Development Authority Bill and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Heritage Area Development Authority Bill, which were later passed by voice vote.
‘Provided stable government’
Siddaramaiah highlighted his distinction of being the first CM to complete the 5-year term in the last four decades after Devaraj Urs(1972-77). Nijalingappa is another CM who completed the term. “We have given a people-friendly and stable government. The previous BJP regime witnessed three CMs. I remained the CM for the entire term,” he said.