Won’t allow House to function if suspension of 18 MLAs not revoked: Karnataka BJP
Bengaluru, Mar 24 (PTI): The BJP in Karnataka on Monday warned the ruling Congress that it would not allow the legislative session to proceed if the suspension of its 18 MLAs was not revoked.
The party alleged Congress intends to run the House without BJP legislators.
On the last day of the Karnataka Assembly session on March 21, 18 BJP MLAs were suspended for their unruly behaviour while protesting against the four per cent reservation granted to Muslims in government contracts under the 2B category of the Other Backward Castes (OBC).
The ruling Congress passed a bill on the quota.
During the protest, BJP MLAs climbed onto the podium where Speaker U T Khader was seated, tore copies of the bill, and threw the pieces at him.
Taking serious note of their actions, the Assembly passed a resolution moved by State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, suspending the 18 BJP MLAs for six months.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said that his party's MLAs were fighting to uphold the Constitution.
"I warn the Congress that our struggle will only intensify if the suspension is not revoked. Let’s see how you (Congress) run the legislative session in the future," the BJP leader said.
He accused the Congress, which frequently invokes the name of B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, of "disregarding" his views that religion-based reservations should not be granted.
"We fought in the Assembly to protect constitutional values. Did we fight for the BJP or individual MLAs? No. Our struggle was to uphold the Constitution," Ashoka stated.
He further alleged that Congress suspended the 18 MLAs simply because they "fought to protect constitutional values."
"I am proud of our 18 suspended MLAs. Their suspension is unlawful. Do you want to run the Assembly by keeping our MLAs out? I have spoken to the Speaker on this issue, and he has assured me that he will discuss it with me," Ashoka added.
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Holiday turns to heartbreak: 7 years after husband's death, Thane woman loses 3 kids in road crash
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Thane (PTI): "Mom, we will be back in two or three days," were the final words three siblings uttered to their mother before leaving their residence in Diva town of Thane district for a short holiday at a relative's place.
Hours later, those words returned to haunt a devastated mother as the news of their deaths in a horrific road accident on Monday morning shattered her world forever.
The siblings, Sneha Mohape (22), Manasi (20), and their brother Prathamesh (17), were among the 11 people who were killed in a head-on collision between a van packed with passengers and a cement mixer truck on a newly constructed bridge over the Ulhas River near Raite village under Kalyan taluka.
The tragedy has wiped out the entire support system of Anjana Mohape, a single mother who had been raising her children with grit and determination since her husband's death seven years ago.
Working as a domestic help, Anjana had ensured her children pursued their education, hoping they would soon stand on their own feet and lift the family out of financial hardship.
"She lived for them. After losing her husband, these three were her only reason to keep going," said Nathu Mohape, a family member.
"They were bright children with dreams of helping their mother. Now, everything is gone in an instant," said the distraught family member.
The siblings were headed to their uncle's house in Panhe village under Murbad taluka of the district to spend their college holiday.
The accident was so severe that the van was reduced to a heap of metal, leaving no room for survival for the Mohape trio.
The last rites of the three siblings will be performed in their native village, family sources said.
While local residents rushed to the spot to initiate a rescue operation, the impact had already claimed the lives of nearly a dozen passengers.
The crash has sparked fresh outrage among locals regarding heavy vehicles on the Kalyan-Ahilyanagar National Highway.
Residents alleged that lorries, mixer and dumper trucks engaged in construction work frequently violate speed limits and safety norms on the highway.
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