Kumaraswamy breaks down while campaigning
Bengaluru, Nov 27: Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy turned emotional on Wednesday ruing that the people of Mandya deserted him by defeating his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the Lok Sabha election this year.
He was campaigning for the JD(S) candidate B L Devaraju who is contesting the December 5 assembly bypolls from the KR Pet constituency.
The people of Mandya have deserted me. I never wanted my son to contest the election but because of your insistence I fielded him, said Kumaraswamy as he broke down during a public meeting at Kikkeri village in Mandya district.
The KR Pet segment became vacant following the disqualification of K C Narayana Gowda of JDS by the then speaker K R Ramesh Kumar.
In July this year, 17 MLAs were disqualified by Kumar based on the complaint of Congress and JD(S) after their absence and resignation from the assembly during the trust vote leading to the collapse of then H D Kumaraswamy-led government.
After the court allowed the disqualified MLAs to contest the polls, the BJP fielded Gowda from the same seat.
In a choked voice and wiping his tears repeatedly with his handkerchief, Kumaraswamy said I am not crying because of losing power but it is only the expression of the pain I have gone through.
What wrong I have done to the people of the state?
Kumaraswamys son and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowdas grandson Nikhil was defeated from Mandya by actress and popular Kannada film star Ambareeshs widow Sumalatha Ambareesh, who fought as an independent candidate.
Kumaraswamy said he was not worried about his son losing the election but was anguished that the people of Mandya, whom he trusted the most, deserted him.
The post of chief minister is nothing for me. I need your love and affection and nothing else, said Kumaraswamy before bursting into tears.
The JD(S) leader said he was in the politics only to serve the poor and downtrodden.
Explaining the circumstances in which he was made the chief minister for 14 months, the former chief minister said Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had compelled him to take up the role when the 2018 Assembly elections threw up a hung assembly.
However, the 14 months tenure was not an easy one.
To tell you the truth, I neither worked peacefully from day one, nor had proper sleep, Kumaraswamy told the crowd.
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Hate Speech Prevention Bill was not passed in haste: Speaker U.T. Khader
Bengaluru: Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader on Monday clarified that the Hate Speech Prevention Bill was not passed in a hurry during the winter session of the Legislature held at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.
Addressing a press conference at the Vidhana Soudha to brief the media on the proceedings of the session, Khader said that the bill was discussed, but confusion arose as multiple issues were taken up simultaneously.
“When an important bill is being discussed and opposition members enter the well of the House and protest, what option is left? There was a detailed discussion on the Hate Speech Prevention Bill in the Legislative Council as well,” he said.
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Khader added that the Assembly had provided ample opportunity for discussion, but opposition parties chose not to participate. “There was no restriction on debate in the Assembly. However, the opposition did not take part in the discussion,” he said.
Responding to a question on the venue of future sessions, the Speaker said discussions are underway on holding the monsoon session in Belagavi instead of the winter session. He explained that the winter season coincides with a large number of religious and social events, and ministers and MLAs often have prior commitments during that period.
On the reported expenditure of ₹43 lakh for the Speaker’s Bench at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Khader said the work was carried out by the Karnataka State Forest Development Corporation and the Public Works Department.
“We are aware of the history and significance of the bench. However, the Speaker’s office does not deal with expenditure details,” he said, adding that the Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly had appreciated the design and was replicating it there. “That itself is a matter of pride for us,” he remarked.
On a question regarding Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar giving an incorrect reply in the House on the release of installments under the Lakshmi Housing Scheme, the Speaker said the minister had acknowledged the mistake and apologised on the floor of the House. “She has also assured that the department will examine how the error occurred,” Khader said.
Providing details of the session, Khader said the Legislature sat for 57 hours and 35 minutes over 10 days, during which 23 bills were passed.
As many as 39 members debated issues related to North Karnataka for 17 hours and 2 minutes, and seven resolutions were unanimously passed for submission to the Central government.
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A total of 2,109 questions were received during the session. Of the 135 questions listed for oral answers, 134 were answered, while 1,750 out of 1,974 questions listed for written replies were responded to.
Under Rule 351, 180 notices were admitted and 70 answered, while 228 out of 368 matters raised for attention were addressed. Two matters were discussed during Zero Hour.
Khader also noted that school and college students, along with members of the public, visited the Legislature during the session. A park was inaugurated within the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha premises, and the world’s second-largest national flag was unfurled during the session, he added.
