BANGALORE: The resolution adopted on Monday by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti-ruled Belgaum Taluk Panchayat urging the Centre to resolve the border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra dominated the proceedings in the Legislative Council on Tuesday.

Acting Leader of the Opposition H.K. Patil sought to move an adjournment motion and said those who have the temerity to even entertain such ideas when the taluk panchayat is a part of Karnataka "need to be taught a lesson."

Under sections 236, 237, 268 and 136 of the Panchayat Raj Act, the Government need not waste even a single moment in exercising its powers. The Government has the option of cancelling the membership of those who moved and passed the resolution, suspend and dissolve the panchayat, or simply dissolve the elected body for going beyond its mandate, Mr. Patil said.

Uchagaon MLA Manohar Kinekar, who belongs to the MES, backed the resolution and he too could be punished for indulging in unconstitutional activities, Mr. Patil said.

Under Section 236 of the Panchayat Raj Act, the Government can even take notice of the issue, which figured in the meeting of the panchayat, to dissolve the body.

Chairman V.R. Sudarshan allowed Mr. Patil to initiate a discussion, making it clear that he had not yet taken a decision on allowing an adjournment motion on the issue. As it turned out, the elders, cutting across parry lines, deplored the act of the MES in adopting a resolution of this kind in the taluk panchayat.

`Action will be taken'

Leader of the House D.H. Shankaramurthy and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basavaraj Horatti said the Government is as disturbed by the development as the Opposition members are. Appropriate action will be taken as soon as information on the exact situation is obtained.

L. Hanumanthappa (Congress) pointed out that the incident was widely reported and telecast on news channels on Monday night, and there was ample time for the Government to obtain all the details and be prepared to announce its decision in the House on Tuesday morning itself.

Basavaraj Bommai (Janata Dal-U) also observed that the issue is serious enough for the Government to have been proactive, and it ought to have been in a position to give an "action taken report" to the House. "This issue has been festering for decades, and if the MES has been so emboldened the Government has itself to blame," he said.

`Seize documents'

He said the Government must seize all the documents, as there are chances that Maharashtra might misuse them to misrepresent facts before the Supreme Court.

BJP member `Mukhyamantri' Chandru said the lackadaisical attitude of the Government is the cause of these disturbing developments, and there can be no excuse for inaction.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail