High drama in Karnataka Assembly

PTI

Bangalore, 12 January 2011: Amid high drama, JD-S members today attempted to enter the Karnataka Assembly in a procession blowing conch shell and carrying a big suitcase with documents claimed to be evidence of corruption against the BJP Government.

 

Apparently to hit back at Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who yesterday threatened to expose former prime minister H D Devegowda family’s "misdeeds" with documentary evidence, JD-S members came armed with the "documents" relating to BJP Government’s alleged scams.

 

JD-S members, led by H D Revanna, son of Devegowda, came in a procession blowing conch shell and beating a bronze cymbal and tried to enter the Assembly, but were prevented by marshals who also refused entry to some party MLAs holding placards.

 

Speaker K G Bopaiah who was not aware of the JD-S protest, ordered the marshals to allow the MLAs to come in after Opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah brought the incident of denial of their entry to his notice.

 

As a group of MLAs brought a big sized suitcase and displayed placards against the government, a shocked Speaker ordered marshals to remove the materials from the House.

 

"Yesterday the Chief Minister brought a suitcase and showed to the House that he had documents against Devegowda and his sons. Today we have brought documents over Yeddyurappa’s scandals," Revanna and his party colleague H C Balakrishna said defending their action.

 

When the House plunged into pandemonium, Bopaiah warned JD-S members that he would name them while Law Minister S Suresh Kumar rose to move a motion for their suspension.

 

Siddaramaiah said this was not for the first time that placards had made way into the House and pointed out that during the Bharat Bandh last year, the Speaker had permitted BJP members to protest holding placards.

 

This apparently made the BJP government to drop plans to get some JD-S members suspended.