Anti-defection law has failed to achieve intended goals: Ex-Speaker Ramesh Kumar
Bengaluru, Jul 29: Defending his decision to disqualify 17 rebel MLAs, K R Ramesh Kumar, who quit as Assembly Speaker Monday, rued that the 10th Schedule of the Constitution dealing with the anti-defection law failed to achieve the intended goals and stressed for a relook into it .
Kumar, whose tenure as Speaker spanned for 14 months and four days, said electoral reforms were the need of the hour.
"The root cause of corruption in public life in the country is electoral system. There is a need for electoral reforms.
Speaking about eradicating corruption without electoral reforms will only be a hollow intellectual talk without any commitment," Kumar said.
He delivered his final speech in the assembly as Speaker after the three-day old BJP government headed by B S Yediyurappa proved its majority in the truncated state Assembly winning the confidence motion by a voice vote.
He announced his resignation, amid reports that the BJP was mulling moving a no-confidence motion against him.
Kumar insisted that the House should pressure the Centre to initiate measures for electoral reforms.
He requested assemblies of all state governments to pass resolutions and build pressure on the Centre to strengthen the anti-defection law.
His appeal came against the backdrop of 17 MLAs of the ruling coalition of Congress and the JD(S) tendering their resignation, leading to political turmoil and culminating in its collapse.
Treating their conduct questionable,Kumar disqualified them ahead of the trust vote sought by Yediyurappa.
On the occasion, he urged political parties to behave in a manner that democratic values are not diminished.
In this regard, he asked politicians to never advance their personal and family interest and destroy the political parties they belong to.
Kumar cautioned Yediyurappa to be careful with people surrounding him and reminded him that he got the second chance for a reason which he should use to leave an indelible mark on the people of the state.
He also sought a relook at the Representation of the People Act and the Lokayukta Act.
On the Lokayukta Act, Kumar wondered why there was no clause to explain what would happen if a public servant refused to provide details of assets and liabilities.
Further he sought to know why the election commission never orders an inquiry when someone declares massive assets to find out where the money came from.
"Once the affidavit is filed, it should be sent to the Enforcement Directorate and an inquiry should happen.
Every detail should be laid bare before the people.
Then only the democracy will survive in this country. Then only, it will give relief to the citizens of this country," Kumar said.
Seventeen rebel MLAs (Congress-14 and JDS-3) had skipped the Assembly session during the trust vote proceedings on July 23, bringing down the Kumaraswamy government which lost the confidence motion with 99 members voting in favour and 105 against it.
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Three arrested for gangrape, blackmail of college student in Bengaluru
Ramanagara (Karnataka) (PTI): Three men have been arrested for allegedly gangraping a 19-year-old college student and blackmailing her using a video of the assault, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred in October at the house of one of the accused in Magadi taluk of Bengaluru South district, they added.
Of the three accused, two are college students, while the third is an electrician by profession, police said.
According to police, the woman came into contact with the prime accused, also a college student, around six to seven months ago.
He befriended her, gained her confidence, and later entered into a relationship with her after promising marriage.
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On the pretext of the relationship, he allegedly established a physical relationship with her and secretly recorded the act on his mobile phone without her knowledge.
He later showed the video to his friends, who are co-accused in the case, a senior police officer said.
In October, the prime accused allegedly threatened and blackmailed the woman using the video clip of their intimate moments and forced her to comply with his demands.
He then allegedly sexually assaulted her along with the other two accused. The assault was also recorded, police said.
The video was later circulated on WhatsApp by one of the accused, they added.
Unable to bear the harassment, the victim informed her parents and approached the police.
Based on her complaint, a case was registered on December 17 at the Magadi police station under Sections 64 (rape), 70 (gangrape) and 71 (punishment for repeat offenders) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police said.
Bengaluru South District Superintendent of Police Srinivas Gowda said all three accused were arrested.
"Two of them are students, and one is employed. All three were known to the victim and had been acquainted with her for more than a couple of months," he said.
