Speaker Kageri refers breach of privilege notice against Congress MLA Sangamesh to Assembly panel
"Indecent" conduct in the House
Bengaluru, Mar 9: Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri on Tuesday referred the breach of privilege notice against Congress MLA B K Sangamesh for his recent "indecent" conduct in the House, to the privilege committee, despite protest by opposition members.
Sangamesh was on March 4 was suspended from the Assembly till March 12 for removing his shirt inside the House, during a protest by his party members against the special discussion on 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE).
The privilege notice by senior BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra with the support of requisite members present in the House was allowed for discussion.
But as there was no order in the assembly with protest and sloganeering by Congress members, the discussion could not be held and the Speaker referred it to the committee on privileges.
Referring the matter to privilege committee, Speaker Kageri hit out at Congress members pointing out that they were not interested in discussion on ONOE or regarding privilege notice now, also they don't attend Business Advisory Committee meeting and boycott budget, which was not right for democracy.
"We have to uphold parliamentary values and fulfill the aspirations of people... keep your irresponsible politics outside the House," he said.
During his preliminary submission regarding his notice on breach of privilege, Jnanendra said, the conduct of Sangamesh on March 4 during Congress' protest, was disrespectful to the Chair, which has utmost sanctity, and amounts to breach of privilege of the House.
As he referred to the incident about Sangamesh removing his shirt in the assembly, Congress members objected to it and said he did that out of anger about false cases booked against him and his family members.
To this some BJP members retorted by demanding that he should be suspended permanently.
Intervening, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said Sangamesh has been suspended from the House for his conduct, then what was need for it to be taken up again.
"He (Sangamesh) is not in the House to defend himself..so it should not be allowed," he said.
Replying, Speaker informed Siddaramaiah that Jnanendra was speaking on breach of privilege notice and according to rules it can be taken up even if the person against whom it is moved is not present in the House, and asked him can raise objection if any, once the submission is made.
Sticking to his stand that such discussion should not be allowed when the concerned member is not in the House, Siddaramaiah questioned as to why such action taken during similar incidents in the past.
"This is not correct..we will not allow."
Congress members then trooped into the well of the House and started their protest by raising slogans like "CD government" "puppets of RSS".
BJP members too hit back by shouting "Italy Congress".
Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, the entire Assembly's privilege has been breached as Sangamesh's conduct was indecent, he has spoken against the Speaker and has caused disrespect to the Chair.
"The privilege notice and procedure being followed is completely in order.. the leader of opposition defending his MLAs conduct of removing shirt is really sad.
If the cases against him (Sangamesh) is wrong, let him go to court and take relief. Will removing cloths here lead to case withdrawal?" he asked.
Accusing the Congress of trying to suppress the voice of the members of the House with such repeated protests and calling it 'undemocratic', Jnanendra pointed out that even after suspension Sangamesh disregarding the orders tried to enter the House and spoke ill about Speaker and the Chair in front of the media.
The conduct of Sangamesh amounts to breach of privilege of the House, the BJP MLA said and urged that he has to be expelled from the House for indefinite period.
Jnanendra then sought to move the motion and for detailed discussion on the matter.
Speaker Kageri then sought to know whether at least 10 members in the House were in support of Jnanendra's notice, following which all the BJP MLAs stood in support.
Subsequently, Speaker announced that he will allow the discussion.
Objecting to it, Siddaramaiah said Sangamesh has not disrespected the Speaker and if he has spoken anything outside there was no authentication for it.
"How is it (discussion) being allowed, we will not allow it... This has never happened in the History of the Karnataka assembly."
Despite his repeated request as the Congress members continued their protest and did not allow the debate on breach of privilege, Speaker referred it to privilege committee to look into it and submit report.
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Ruckus outside counting centre in Mamata's constituency, TMC claims entry of car with BJP flag
Kolkata (PTI): The counting centre at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Bhabanipur assembly constituency witnessed a ruckus a day ahead of the counting of votes, with TMC workers alleging two cars bearing the BJP's flag were allowed entry to the compound where EVMs are kept.
The incident comes close on the heels of a four-hour-long sit-in by Banerjee in front of the same counting centre at the Sakhawat Memorial Girls School on Thursday night, alleging unauthorised entry of persons into the strongroom.
With the polling now over, the wrangling for power in West Bengal has turned into a battle of nerves between the incumbent TMC and the BJP. Workers and leaders of both parties have been keeping a steely gaze on the security of strongrooms across the state where the electoral fate of the candidates is sealed.
Despite expressing her confidence in a "landslide victory", Banerjee has repeatedly aired her apprehensions of "counting malpractice and EVM tampering ahead of the day of results".
On Sunday morning, TMC workers camping 100 metres from the counting centre alleged that two cars with BJP flags entered the premises and went near the strongroom.
"The CAPF personnel at the spot are not allowing any vehicle or person to enter the premises of the counting centre without valid identity proof. Then how come this car, which we have not seen in the past few days, was allowed entry? Once we protested, the central forces asked us to move 100 metres away," a TMC activist said.
The TMC claimed that while the police personnel posted there promised the vehicle would be removed from the spot, it remained there for some time.
A senior Election Commission official said the car was passing by the Harish Mukherjee Road, and after checking by security forces and police, it was allowed to leave as nothing objectionable was found in it.
On Thursday night, two counting centres, including one at Sakhawat Memorial Girls School in the city, witnessed high drama after TMC leaders alleged a lack of transparency and possible malpractice at the strongrooms housing sealed EVMs of the assembly polls, which concluded on April 29.
TMC leaders and candidates, Sashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh, held a sit-in outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra counting centre on Thursday evening, alleging unauthorised activities inside the strongroom amid the absence of TMC agents
In Howrah, TMC protested renovation work by the public works department at a place adjacent to the strongroom, and the EC stopped the work temporarily.
On Saturday, the ruling party filed a complaint with the poll panel, alleging unauthorised sorting of postal ballot covers at the EVM strongroom in Khudiram Anushilan Kendra.
Similar scenes were witnessed on Saturday outside the strongrooms at Asansol College in Paschim Bardhaman and the Barasat Government College in North 24 Parganas districts, where TMC workers held protests, alleging that CCTV cameras were switched off for several minutes.
The EC turned down all allegations, saying the surveillance cameras were working in an uninterrupted manner.
BJP spokesperson Sajal Ghosh told reporters that the people of Bengal were finding it "hilarious" that the TMC, "which used to win elections through unfair means and strongarm tactics" were now coming up with all sorts of "frivolous charges".
"Are they scared of losing?" he posed.
