Karnataka Guv writes to CM, Speaker to revoke suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from Assembly
Bengaluru, Apr 29 (PTI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Speaker U T Khader, to positively consider the request to revoke the suspension of 18 BJP members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and to take necessary steps in this regard.
In separate letters addressed to the Chief Minister and the Speaker, the Governor expressed his "desire" that they take such a decision in order to uphold the basic tenets of democratic values in the State and to enable the suspended MLAs to resume their responsibilities as representatives of the people.
A BJP delegation, led by state party president B Y Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, had met the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Monday and submitted a memorandum seeking revocation of the suspensions. They termed the move “undemocratic and unconstitutional.”
They urged the Governor to direct the Speaker to reconsider the suspension and allow the MLAs to fulfill their duties as elected representatives.
In an unprecedented move on March 21, 18 BJP MLAs were suspended for six months for showing “indiscipline” and “disrespecting” the Speaker.
They were forcefully evicted from the Assembly by marshals after refusing to leave.
The Governor, citing the memorandum submitted by the BJP legislative party leaders from both the Assembly and the Council, stated in his letter that they had requested him to forward their representation to the Speaker and the state government to reconsider the suspension order imposed on the 18 MLAs, who belong to the principal opposition party.
"In view of the above, to uphold the basic tenets of democratic values in the State of Karnataka and to enable the suspended Members to resume their responsibilities as people’s representatives, I desire that their request be considered positively, and necessary steps be taken to revoke the suspension," the Governor’s letter dated April 28 stated.
"Further, details of the action taken may be brought to my notice," Gehlot added.
The incident leading to the suspension occurred on the last day of the Assembly’s budget session, when BJP MLAs staged a massive protest. They were opposing the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts and demanding a judicial probe into an alleged “honey-trap” attempt involving Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna.
During the protest inside the Assembly, some BJP legislators climbed onto the Speaker’s podium and surrounded his chair, while others hurled papers from the well of the House. Marshals had to intervene and forcibly evict the legislators.
The suspended MLAs include BJP chief whip Doddanagouda Patil, former Deputy CM C N Ashwath Narayan, S R Vishwanath, B A Basavaraju, M R Patil, Channabasappa, B Suresh Gowda, Umanath Kotyan, Sharanu Salagar, Dr Shailendra Beldale, C K Ramamurthy, Yashpal Suvarna, B P Harish, Bharath Shetty, Dheeraj Muniraju, Chandru Lamani, Muniratna, and Basavaraj Mattimud.
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Need to amend Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act 1976 to save trees in state: Minister Khandre
Bengaluru: Minister for Forest and Environment Eshwara B Khandre expressed worry over the illegal felling of trees on government land, forests and roadsides and opined that there was a need to amend the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act 1976 to handle the problem.
Khandre, who addressed the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) Monthly Management Review (MMR) meeting on Thursday, said that there was a need to take strict action in the matter by imposing higher penalty on those axing trees illegally.
He also cited the Supreme Court’s objection to cutting trees in large numbers, saying protection of trees was necessary in the backdrop of increasing levels of global warming and climate change. He directed the officials to follow the Supreme Court’s view over the indiscriminate axing of trees, adding that officials should not grant permission to unnecessary felling of trees.
In addition, the minister pointed out that citizens and environmentalists had expressed outrage over the axing of 40 trees in Mysuru recently and the proposal to fell 368 trees near the Cantonment Railway Station in Bengaluru.
Khandre said there should be zero tolerance for encroachment of forest land and, in cases of encroachment post-2015, the encroachers should be evicted without leniency. He also directed officials for him information on encroachments, evictions and actions that had been taken in the last two years.
