BANGALORE: Citing some instances of legislature debates altering the very political course of the State, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H.K. Patil on Tuesday attempted to demolish the Government's argument that the notice for an adjournment motion on the Rs. 150-crore bribery charge against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy did not merit a discussion.

As the House assembled 75 minutes behind schedule, the Opposition Congress continued its dharna for the second day seeking the Chair's leave for the adjournment motion, the notice for which was given on Friday.

The notice sought a discussion on the reported allegation by a BJP member of the House, Janardhan Reddy, that the Chief Minister had collected Rs. 150 crore through the for Forests C. Chennigappa from mine owners in Bellary district.

Leader of the House D.H. Shankaramurthy argued that the notice did not have enough merit to be discussed as an adjournment motion, as the allegation was based on media reports. It could be considered under any other relevant rule. However, discussion could be permitted only after the Opposition gave notice.

In the presence of Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who remained silent, Mr. Shankaramurthy repeatedly appealed to acting Chairman Sachidanand L. Khot not to admit the notice. At one point he asserted that the legislature had not accommodated an adjournment motion on any issue based only on news reports.

Countering Mr. Shankaramurthy's contention, Mr. Patil said that it was not right to belittle either the issue or the news reports. Many issues that rocked politics in the State, such as arrack bottling, telephone tapping, the `Moily tapes' and the Rolex watch controversy, were initially news stories. But the legislature took them seriously. Those issues were raised and discussed under various rules of the House, including as adjournment motions. The government of the day ordered inquiries into the issues or constituted commissions of inquiry to get at the truth of the allegations.

Addressing the Chair amid vociferous protests from some members of the ruling parties, he said, "The Leader of the House and other BJP Ministers have been endorsing the allegation made by Mr. Janardhan Reddy, a member of this House, against the Chief Minister through their silence. The Government should become sensitive and responsive to the serious allegations." It should provide protection to Mr. Reddy who is now under pressure to retract his allegation. The Chief Minister should immediately come to the House and make a statement on the issue. Even if the members kept quiet over the matter, the media could not afford to be complacent over democracy being suppressed in the guise of rules, an emotionally charged Mr. Patil said.

The House met at 4 p.m. after the lunch break only to be adjourned for the day as neither side was willing to yield on their demands.

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