Bangalore: The Opposition in the Legislative Assembly on Monday ended its boycott of proceedings of the House. The boycott was in protest against what it called the "whimsical manner" in which the Speaker, Krishna, allowed the passage of the Karnataka Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill without debating it. The issue was amicably resolved during the Business Advisory Committee meeting held in the chambers of the Speaker.

Leader of the Opposition N. Dharam Singh, Janata Dal (U) floor leader J.C. Madhuswamy, Kannada Chaluvali member Vatal Nagaraj, G.V. Srirama Reddy (CPI-M), S. Rajendran (RPI) and Jayaprakash Hegde (independent), spoke when the House met after the meeting with the Speaker. They urged him to ensure a meaningful discussion on at least important Bills. All of them said they will cooperate with the Government and play the role of a constructive Opposition.

Making it clear that the Opposition has no axe to grind against the Speaker, Mr. Singh said whatever they do or speak in the House is in the best interests of the people and the State.

Had Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa or the Speaker convened a meeting, the crisis would not have cropped up at all.

`Could have been avoided'

The former Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge said that had Mr. Madhuswamy been allowed to speak on the VAT Bill or if Mr. Yediyurappa had explained it as demanded by the member, the problem would not have arisen. Taking a dig at the Government for rushing through the Bill when the Congress, the main Opposition had walked out, he said it was bad that an important finance Bill was treated in that manner.

He took the Government to task for finalising a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Kalasa-Banduri Nala issue without involving the Opposition. All these developments have created discomfort in the Opposition ranks, he said.

Mr. Kharge demanded that all unparliamentary remarks made by members of the ruling parties on Wednesday against frontbenchers in the Opposition should be expunged.

`We were disappointed'

Mr. Madhuswamy, who was at a loss to understand why he was refused a chance to speak on the VAT Bill, said Mr. Srirama Reddy and he had studied the issue and they were disappointed when the Speaker went ahead with the passage of the Bill.

He said the VAT rate on coffee and soapnut powder has been raised to 12.5 per cent from four per cent. "Do not expect kudos from the Opposition. We are here to criticise the bad actions and policies of the Government," he said.

Mr. Nagaraj reiterated his plea to the Speaker to "act like the Mahabharata's Krishna, who treated both the Kauravas and the Pandavas alike. Do not remain the Krishna of Krishnarajpet," which he represents in the House, he added.

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