Karnataka Legislative Council Adjourned for Third Consecutive Day Amid Political Stalemate
The Karnataka Legislative Council witnessed yet another day of disruption on Thursday, marking the third consecutive session where proceedings were completely washed out without any official business being transacted. The persistent deadlock continues to revolve around the controversy stemming from Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot's address to the joint session of the state legislature last week.
Opposition Demands Apology Over Governor Speech Remarks
As soon as the Upper House assembled in the morning, the principal opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reiterated its firm demand for an apology from NS Bose Raju, who serves as both a minister and the leader of the House. The BJP's insistence stems from Bose Raju's statement that the government condemns the governor's speech, a remark that has ignited significant political friction.
Congress members came out in strong defense of Bose Raju, vehemently arguing against the need for any apology. Just when it appeared that the stalemate might see a potential resolution, the situation took a dramatic turn. Senior Congress member BK Hariprasad allegedly made what the BJP described as derogatory remarks directed at BJP legislator DS Arun.
Chaotic Exchange Leads to Brief Adjournment
DS Arun claimed that Hariprasad had raised his hand at the governor while the latter was exiting the House after delivering his brief two-line address the previous week. In a heated retort, Hariprasad reportedly shot back, Instead of my hand, should I have raised my leg? This provocative exchange triggered immediate chaos within the legislative chamber, forcing Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti to adjourn the proceedings temporarily.
Chairman Horatti convened an urgent meeting of floor leaders from all political parties in an attempt to broker a consensus and restore order. However, the meeting failed to yield any agreement. The opposition remained steadfast in its demand, calling for either a formal apology from Hariprasad or his suspension from the House. Meanwhile, the Congress party stood firmly behind its senior member, refusing to concede to the BJP's demands.
With the deadlock showing no signs of breaking, Chairman Horatti had no choice but to adjourn the House until Friday, prolonging the legislative impasse.
Parallel Turmoil in Legislative Assembly Over Government Advertisements
Simultaneously, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly also descended into noisy and disruptive scenes, though the focus shifted to a different contentious issue. The opposition parties staged a strong protest against government advertisements that appeared in leading daily newspapers, which opposed the central government's G RAM G Act.
BJP legislator S Suresh Kumar prominently displayed a newspaper during the question-and-answer session, alleging that the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department had issued an advertisement criticizing the Centre's law. He labeled this move as vindictive politics and raised serious questions about the misuse of taxpayers' money.
Why is taxpayers' money being used for such politically charged advertisements? Kumar demanded, further questioning why the advertisement was routed through a government department instead of the Congress party directly, given its overtly political nature.
Opposition Accusations and Government Defense
Other opposition members quickly joined the fray, collectively criticizing the state government for allocating public funds to advertisements rather than prioritizing developmental projects. The BJP accused the Congress of misusing taxpayer money to disseminate political messages and insisted that the amount spent on advertisements advocating for the reinstatement of MGNREGA should be recovered from the Congress party's coffers.
Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who was previously expelled from the BJP, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating relationship between the central and state governments. How will the relationship between central and state governments survive if the government indulges in misinformation? he wondered, demanding accountability from the responsible ministers.
BJP's Sunil Kumar further escalated the accusations by questioning whether the governing party would accept local bodies advertising against the state government in a similar manner. Yatnal also launched a sharp attack, accusing the government of honoring a fake Gandhi while showing disrespect to Mahatma Gandhi.
Government's Firm Stance and Final Adjournment
In response to the barrage of criticism, Congress minister Priyank Kharge adopted a defiant stance. We will continue with the campaign, he declared emphatically. We will advertise even in newspapers in Delhi, he challenged, daring his critics to point out any specific legal violations in the government's actions.
Despite repeated appeals for order and decorum from Speaker UT Khader, the trading of accusations between the Congress and the opposition continued unabated. With no resolution in sight and the atmosphere remaining highly charged, the Speaker was compelled to adjourn the proceedings, mirroring the disruption seen in the Legislative Council.
The ongoing political turmoil in Karnataka's legislature underscores the deepening rift between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, with both houses paralyzed by contentious issues that show little immediate prospect of resolution.
