BANGALORE: Speaker Krishna upbraided members of the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday for their behaviour, and observed that many of them were ignorant about decorum.

"Many members are not even qualified to sit in the House," he said.

Concerned at the continued non-cooperation of members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress on taking up a debate on allegations of bribery against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Minister for Forests C. Chennigappa under Rule 69 of the House, the Speaker threatened to pull up individual members if they did not help restore order in the House.

Turning towards the members, the Speaker said: "People will not have a good opinion about you if you continue to behave in an unruly manner day after day."

He told Leader of Opposition N. Dharam Singh and a few other Congress MLAs that he had allowed them to raise the issue under Rule 69, and the discussion could be taken up after Question Hour.

Allegations and counter allegations took an hour, and the Speaker told Mr. Dharam Singh, M. Mallikarjun Kharge and R.V. Deshpande (both Congress) to cooperate with him to take up Question Hour. While he was requesting members to maintain peace, Water Resources Minister K.S. Eshwarappa made remarks against Congress members, and Mr. Shivakumar objected to these.

Mr. Kharge requested the Speaker to expunge the remarks or ask Mr. Eswarappa to apologise.

The uproarious scenes provoked C.S. Putte Gowda (Janata Dal - Secular) to threaten to stage a walkout. There was order in the House for some time.

Mr. Putte Gowda said it was unbecoming of members to use foul language in the House. Gram panchayat meetings were conducted with dignity and decorum.

Members who had been elected more than once, who caused disturbances in the House, should be aware that the proceedings were telecast and voters had seen them. Mr. Eshwarappa criticised the Congress for "not giving due respect to the Chair, and there was an exchange of words between him and Mr. Shivakumar. The Speaker adjourned the House for lunch.

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