R. Ashok alleges disrespect to Governor during joint session; seeks action after video review
Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Friday accused the state government of showing disrespect to the Governor during his address to the joint session of the Legislature and demanded action against those responsible after reviewing video footage of the incident.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Ashoka questioned claims that BJP members had torn the clothes of Legislative Council member B.K. Hariprasad during the commotion. “If Hariprasad’s kurta was torn, who did it? Those who blocked the Governor and clashed with marshals were Congress members. Yet, the blame is being put on the BJP,” he said, urging the authorities to verify the footage and take action against the guilty.
Ashoka also rejected allegations from the ruling party that the Governor had disrespected the national anthem. He argued that it was the government’s responsibility to arrange the anthem, not the Governor’s. “The Governor concluded his speech and left after saying ‘Jai Hind’. He was made to leave alone, without anyone accompanying him. Portraying this as him ‘running away’ is unfair,” he said, referring to comments attributed to Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H. K. Patil.
The opposition leader maintained that while governments may come and go, legislative traditions and rules must be upheld. He demanded that action be taken against ruling party members for the alleged disrespect shown to the Governor, similar to past instances where BJP legislators were suspended.
Joining the debate, BJP leader Dr C.N. Ashwath Narayan said the Speaker must protect the dignity of the House. Citing Assembly rules, he said those who disrupted the Governor’s address should face action in the next session, and called for a resolution condemning the incident along with an apology to the Governor.
Responding from the treasury benches, ruling party member K.M. Shivalingegowda said the government had welcomed the Governor with due respect but objected to what he termed disrespect to the national anthem while the Governor was leaving. He downplayed the obstruction, saying it did not amount to a serious offence.
Speaker U. T. Khader later said written complaints had been received from both sides the ruling party alleging disrespect to the national anthem, and the opposition alleging disrespect to the Governor. He said the matter would be examined and a ruling would be given, adding that the House should focus on discussion rather than personal hostility.
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Posters declaring Samrat as new Bihar CM put up outside Patna BJP office as Nitish heads to Delhi
Patna (PTI): Posters declaring Samrat Choudhary, the deputy CM of Bihar, as the man who would head the new government in the state, were on Thursday put up outside the BJP office in Patna as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left for Delhi to be sworn in as a Rajya Sabha MP.
The posters, a few of which were pulled down by the party office staff, bore the label of 'Valmiki Samaj', a community of Dalits associated with scavenging work.
"We do not know who has put up these posters. We can, at this moment, only say that who would be the next CM is a decision to be taken collectively, as has been the party's tradition," BJP state media in charge Danish Eqbal told reporters.
Speculations are rife that upon being sworn in as Rajya Sabha MP on Friday, Kumar, who turned 75 last month, will hold the last meeting of his cabinet next week before giving up the chief minister's post.
Choudhary, who is seen as the front-runner among those in the race for the top job, has experienced a meteoric rise since he joined the BJP less than a decade ago.
Hailing from the Koeri caste, an influential OBC group which both the BJP and the main opposition party RJD have been trying to woo with equal intensity, Choudhary was made the state party president in 2023 and became the Deputy CM a year later, when the NDA was back in power following the JD(U) supremo's return to the coalition.
When the NDA retained power in the assembly polls held last year, Choudhary returned as Deputy CM, this time with the crucial Home portfolio, which Kumar had so far been averse to parting with.
According to sources in the BJP, which is currently the single largest party in the 243-strong assembly, the new government will be formed after April 14, when the month-long inauspicious Hindu calendar period of 'Kharmaas' ends.
The sources said top leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are likely to be present at a "grand ceremony" that will mark the formation of the "first ever BJP government in Bihar", the only Hindi heartland state where the seat of power has eluded the party.
While Choudhary was being admittedly seen as the "most preferred" candidate for the top job, a "surprise" could not be ruled out since the final decision would be taken by the BJP's top leadership, known for adopting a "shock and awe" strategy.
Meanwhile, JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad was asked about reports that the BJP was likely to hold a meeting in Delhi to discuss the formation of the new government in Bihar.
Prasad told PTI Video, "Of course, being a significant constituent of the NDA, the BJP has the right to hold deliberations on the emerging situation. But one thing is clear. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's consent will be sought while deciding his successor. Moreover, he will continue to spend as much time as possible in the state to offer guidance to the new government."
