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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Defeat of Constitution Amendment Bill betrayal of nation's woman power: Adityanath
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha "betrayal of the woman power" of the nation.
A Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated on Friday.
In a post on X in Hindi, late on Friday night, Adityanath said, "Today, a dark chapter has been added to the history of India's great democracy. The Opposition's obstruction of the passage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill essential for the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is a blow to the honour of 'Bharat Mata' (Mother India). It is a betrayal of the entire woman power of the nation; it is an infringement upon their democratic rights.
"The Congress-led 'INDI' alliance has exposed its anti-women mindset. The women of the nation are watching and understanding everything. They will remember this deceit and injustice, and when the time comes, they will surely give a reply. Under the leadership of our Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, the NDA alliance will continue its unwavering efforts to protect the honour, dignity, and rights of women, and to ensure their empowerment."
While 298 members voted in support of the Bill in the Lok Sabha, 230 MPs voted against it. The Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
According to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to 816 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Seats were also to be increased in state and Union Territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
This was for the first time that a Bill under the Modi government was defeated in Parliament.
