BENGALURU: Amid din, the Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government, accusing it of denying Karnataka’s tax share. It also passed another resolution backing the farmers’ agitation in New Delhi, seeking a law for minimum support price (MSP) for all crops.
“This House unanimously demands that the Centre take the stand of equitable distribution and non-discriminatory allocation of financial resources in the interest of the development of Karnataka and ensure that no injustice is done to the people of the state,” stated the first resolution presented by Law Minister HK Patil.
The Centre, through its anti-farmer policy, has created a situation where farmers are not getting remunerative MSP for their produce, he alleged. “The House unanimously resolves to urge the Centre to formulate a law to fix remunerative MSP for all crops and fulfil the just demands of the agitating farmers,” Patil said.
BJP legislators, who had no clue about the ruling Congress passing the resolution, were taken aback.
BJP protest resolution, JDS members back ally
Led by Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and BJP state president BY Vijayendra, the BJP members went to the well of the House and staged a protest.
JDS MLAs backed them silently. The agi tated BJP MLAs tore the copies of the resolution and raised slogans against the Siddaramaiah government. “If the government is honest, it should have mentioned the resolutions to be passed in the House on the day’s agenda. It is cowardice to place the resolutions all of a sudden, Ashoka said.
Adjourning the House, Speaker UT Khader held a reconciliation meeting with Congress MLAs led by Patil and BJP MLAs led by Ashoka. The BJP legislators expressed strong objection to the Speaker’s action of “supporting” the ruling Congress.
Later addressing reporters, Vijayendra accused the ruling Congress of violating the rules regarding the conduct of the House. Foreseeing a defeat in the coming Lok Sabha elections as its guarantees are not working, the Congress government is trying to blame the Centre for its failures, he alleged. “Presenting the resolutions all of a sudden is not a healthy sign of democracy. Even the Speaker did not bring this to our attention,” Ashoka said.