Govt asked to probe alleged ill-treatment of Bantwala BJP MLA at government function
Belagavi, Dec 12: Karnataka Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar Wednesday directed the government to look into the alleged ill-treatment meted out to an MLA at a government function at BC road in bantwala taluk recently.
He said respect and prestige of the House was of utmost importance, and MLAs were its integral part.
Speaker warned against repeat of such incidents in future.
The speaker made these remarks in the State Assembly as Bantwal BJP MLA Rajesh Naik narrated an incident where he was allegedly ill-treated during the inauguration of the 'Indira Canteen' (subsidised canteens run by the government) in his constituency, over which he had presided.
He alleged that slogans were raised against him by a group of people and he was manhandled in the presence of district in-charge minister. Later when he complained to the police, his case was not taken up, Naik said.
Taking strong exception to this, the speaker said "I may take it up as a privilege (issue) next time. Dont give that opportunity...elected representatives should be given respect."
He also directed deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, who also holds the Home Portfolio, to look into the matter and get the case investigated.
"Once elected a MLA, he or she is part of this House, ask your officials to do their duty, instead of showing their loyalty to those who got them transferred or posted," he told the Home Minister.
District in-charge Minister U T Khader, who was present at the inauguration, expressed regret over the alleged ill-treatment to the MLA.
BJP MLAs took strong exception and raised their voice when he said it was not as grave to file a police complaint.
They said many BJP MLAs have experienced similar ill-treatment in their respective constituencies and alleged that government events these days looked like Congress programmes.
They also accused police of siding with those who create such disturbances.
There was a moment of chaos in the House as BJP and Congress MLAs indulged in a heated exchange, resulting in the speaker threatening to walk out.
Intervening, Leader of Opposition B S Yeddyurappa seeking protection from the Chair, asked the Home Minister to take the issue seriously and investigate the case.
Home Minister Parameshwar said he would look into the matter and issue directions to the police.
"It is the duty of police to work in accordance with the law and protecting it," Parameshwara said.
Subsequently, Naik informed the House that he just got information that a case was registered about the incident.
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MP boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 10 with recovery of one more body; 3 tourists still missing
Jabalpur (PTI): The body of a child was retrieved on Saturday evening from Bargi Dam in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh, raising the death toll in the cruise boat tragedy that took place two days ago to ten, while search continued for three missing tourists.
The boat, operated by the state tourism department, capsized during a storm on Thursday evening with some of the survivors alleging negligence and safety lapses such as life jackets not being distributed in time.
The body recovered on Saturday evening was possibly that of six-year-old Viraj Soni, said Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Anjul Ayank Mishra.
"The identity will be confirmed after family members identify the body," he told PTI.
Kamraj, an employee of the Ordnance Factory at Khamaria, his five-year-old son Tamil, and another child Mayuram (5) who had come from southern India were still missing.
Authorities have arranged equipment to search deep waters of the dam and are getting a generator to facilitate diving operations, Mishra added.
Divers and disaster response teams have expanded the search radius to five km, he said.
Of the 41 identified passengers on board the ill-fated vessel, 28 were rescued, police said.
More than 200 rescuers, including around 20 Army divers airlifted from Agra, joined the search operation that resumed at 5 on Saturday morning. The operation, involving the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and local divers, was briefly affected at around 9 am due to strong winds, officials said.
Post-mortem examinations of nine deceased persons have been completed, Mishra said.
"Our priority is to search for the missing persons. We will also register a First Information Report in the case soon," he said.
Police said CCTV footage near the boarding point showed 43 people heading towards the boat while the identities of 41 passengers have been confirmed so far.
The state government on Friday ordered a probe into the tragedy and dismissed three crew members. It also banned operation of similar vessels in the state.
