The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BJP, JD(U) seek House panel probe into charges made by Shivaram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 09, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP, JD(U) seek House panel probe into charges made by Shivaram

Staff Reporter

`Concede demand before Opposition agrees to participate in debate'

BANGALORE: The Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, D.H. Shankaramurthy, and the Janata Dal (U) floor leader, M.P. Nadagouda, on Friday urged the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), coalition partners in the State Government, to agree to a probe by a House committee into the allegations made by the Information Minister, B. Shivaram, against the Minister for Public Works, H.D. Revanna.

Continuing their attack on the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) combine for the third consecutive day in the Council, they said the Government should concede the demand before the Opposition agrees to participate in the debate on grants for various departments.

As the Opposition members did not allow the House to conduct any transaction, the Chairman, V.R. Sudarshan, adjourned the House till Monday, expressing his helplessness as both the Government and the Opposition remained obdurate.

As soon as the House assembled and Mr. Sudarshan announced that he would take up the question hour, Mr. Shankaramurthy wanted to know to whom the Opposition should address its questions, as it is unable to accept the existing dispensation as the Government.

Even Congress MLCs had on Thursday demanded that the Horticulture Minister, A. Srinivas, apologise and withdraw his remarks describing the JD (S)'s association with the Congress as "Shani sahavasa," he said.

"Should we discuss issues, ignoring the allegations and counter-allegations by Ministers without realising our responsibility. We will not allow the Government to function in any manner it fancies. Let them set their house in order, and if they say that they cannot do it, the only way out will be to constitute a House committee," he said.

The Leader of House, M. Mallikarjun Kharge, dared the Opposition to produce evidence and refer it to the Lokayukta. The Government should not be blamed based on newspaper reports.

The Information Minister has denied that he made such statements.

Mr. Kharge said he is surprised over the demand for a House committee probe on the basis of a newspaper report.

Reminding the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders of the fine parliamentary practices they were observing 15 years ago, Mr. Kharge said: "Let the new legislators learn and do not mislead them."

At this point, Mr. Shankaramurthy and Dr. Nadagouda reminded Mr. Kharge that the allegations were made by one Minister against another.

They demanded that Mr. Revanna, who is on a foreign tour, make a written statement on the allegations made against him. "Why should we sit in the Opposition, if we are not allowed to raise matters of public importance?" they asked.

At one stage, V.S. Ugrappa (Congress) raised a point of order and was reminded by the Chair that the House is not in order.

However, he was allowed to speak. Mr. Ugrappa said there are many issues to be discussed. Coloured sand is being sold as fertilizer, seeds have not been distributed, farmers are in distress, but the Opposition is trying to fish in troubled waters.

There were some exchanges between B.A. Hasanabba (Congress) and Puttanna (Janata Dal-United) on the one hand and Mr. Ugrappa and the Industries Minister, P.G.R. Sindhia, on the other about the allegations and counter-allegations being traded by the two coalition parties outside the House.

The Chairman said that Mr. Revanna will make a statement on his return from the tour.

Mr. Sudarshan expressed his displeasure over political issues being raised and advised members not to misuse the House for political gains.

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