Cong MLAs protest in Assembly seeking action against BJP legislator for remarks on Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Legislative Assembly has witnessed chaotic scenes, with ruling Congress MLAs trooping into the well of the House, demanding the Speaker take action against BJP MLA Munirathna, accusing him of inappropriate behaviour and making personal comments against Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
The incident occurred on Thursday while Shivakumar was replying to a discussion on issues relating to Bengaluru. Shivakumar is also the Minister in-charge of Bengaluru Development.
As Munirathna made certain comments on Shivakumar, demanding answers to some of the issues raised by him concerning the city, Congress members took strong objection to it, calling it "inappropriate behaviour".
Munirathna demanded that Shivakumar answer his question, making remarks against the latter, even after Speaker U T Khader declared the discussion on Bengaluru closed and proceeded to the Question Hour. This further enraged Congress MLAs.
Congress legislators demanded that the Chair expel Munirathna from the House.
The ruling party MLAs then trooped into the well of the House, demanding that the Chair give its ruling and announce action against Munirathna by expelling him.
As the chaos continued, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka urged the Speaker to end the stalemate by ensuring that Munirathna gets a reply to the issues on which he is demanding answers, through officers, and expunge certain inappropriate comments that were made.
However, Congress members demanded that Munirathna apologise or that the Speaker suspend him.
Khader, while expunging the comments made during the exchange, said, "Karnataka is not known for revenge politics, but humanity and harmony. This is the tradition of this House. We must uphold the honour and decorum of the House. This is not a place to display power or indulge in personal attacks."
Warning strict action against any act of indiscipline, he said, "We should ensure that such things don't repeat."
He said the Chair can give a ruling expelling or suspending a member only when the government names him or her.
Following the Speaker's warning against any act of misconduct and a request to them, Congress members withdrew their protest.
Earlier in the day, Shivakumar and Munirathna engaged in a verbal altercation after the former referred to cases against the MLA, which the Speaker had expunged from the records.
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Air travel saves time, spent far lesser than ex-CM Basavaraj Bommai: Siddaramaiah tells BJP MLA
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah upheld his decision to travel by air on various occasions and to nearby places, arguing that it saved time and by putting before the Assembly expenses incurred by his predecessor Basavaraj Bommai.
Replying on the state budget on Thursday, the CM referred to BJP legislator H Vishwanath’s query regarding the money spent on his travel by air.
According to Deccan Herald, the senior MLA of the Opposition pointed out that while the CM was using a flight for a one-hour journey between Mysuru and Bengaluru, adding that the tax-payers’ money was used for the journey.
Siddaramaiah snapped at Vishwanath, asking if Bommai had not done the same. “Bommai had spent Rs 37 crore in 2022-23. Was that not extravagant?” Siddaramaiah asked the BJP MLA.
Presenting the figures before the House, Siddaramaiah said he had spent Rs 54 crore on air travel in the three years since he took charge as CM. He had spent Rs 12 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 21 crore each in the next two financial years, the CM said, challenging the Opposition to compare the figures with those of Bommai’s expenses on air travel.
The BJP members clarified that they had raised objections only to the special trips of Siddaramaiah to Chikkaballapur, which is situated barely 60 km away from Bengaluru, and not his trips to Delhi.
Clarifying from his front, the CM said he traveled by air to short distances as a chief minister had long hours of work and it was important to save time.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that the money spent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on foreign trips was as high as Rs 814 crore.
In response, however, the BJP and the JD(S) members walked out of the house, expressing dissent over the state budget.
