Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec. 15: Karnataka Legislative Council, chairperson, Basavaraj Horatti on Wednesday suspended 14 Congress party (Opposition) members including the leader of the opposition, S. R. Patil for a day for holding a dharna (demonstration) demanding a debate on allegations of land-grabbing involving a Minister.
Congress member M. Narayanaswamy raised the issue alleging that a Minister grabbed land by fabricating documents in Bengaluru, which a court in Bengaluru had also taken cognizance of the case and ordered criminal cases against him. “Hence, the Opposition should be allowed to debate on this issue under the adjournment motion,” he said.
As he raised the issue, Congress members led by leader of the Opposition, S. R. Patil demanded that the Council must adjourn all issues as the allegations of land grab have surfaced against the minister, as a result of this, the issue must be allowed to debate in the Upper House.
The Opposition’s demand was rejected by the Law and parliamentary affairs minister, J. C. Madhuswamy by citing rules, stating that the Council can not discuss or debate any issue that is being heard at any court in the country.
“The Council is entitled to discuss issues that are not in purview of the court in such matters (charges against any sitting member). As the court has already begun the trial and the next hearing of this case is scheduled for December 23, therefore, the Chairperson, should not allow this topic to be debated in this forum,” he appealed.
Hearing this, Legislative Council chairman, Horatti appealed to agitating opposition members to withdraw their protest and return to their seats.
Rejecting Mr Madhuswamy and Mr Horatti’s appeals, the Congress party members continued to hold demonstrations even after they were suspended.
According to the chairperson’s directives, suspended 14 members include the Leader of the Opposition, S. R. Patil, Congress senior leader, B. K. Hariprasad M. Narayanaswamy, M. A. Gopalaswamy, Naseer Ahmed, C. M. Lingappa, U. B. Venkatesh, Aravind Arali, Pratap Chandra Shetty, C. M. Ibrahim, Harish Kumar, Veena Achaiah, R. B. Thimmapura and Basavaraj Itagi.
