New Delhi (Agency): Tension simmered within the Karnataka assembly on Tuesday, leading to a brief adjournment instigated by vehement opposition from the BJP. The uproar centered around accusations of procrastination by the ruling Congress party in fulfilling five key guarantees pledged during the election campaign.
BJP legislators staged a dramatic protest, converging in the heart of the House, chanting slogans against the Congress governance. This unprecedented display led Speaker U T Khader to momentarily adjourn proceedings.
The assembly began conventionally, with Speaker Khader sanctioning the presentation of the star question. Following this, Congress MLA Shivalinge Gowda stood to initiate the discussion. However, ex-Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai interjected, insisting on acceptance of an adjournment motion and focusing discussion on the controversial issue, supplanting the scheduled question hour.
Endorsing Bommai’s stance, BJP MLA R Ashoka charged the government with duping citizens under the guise of the so-called five guarantees. This sentiment soon echoed across other BJP members, demanding precedence for their concerns.
Despite Speaker Khader’s numerous pleas for the BJP to let the Question Hour proceed, their opposition remained unyielding. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expressed a jab at the BJP, stating they were simply unable to digest the success of the five guarantees. “Let the Question Hour happen. Then we will hear their (BJP’s) ‘Pearl of Wisdom’,” Shivakumar retorted.
Regardless, BJP MLAs continued to voice their grievances regarding the perceived failures in the execution of the five promises. Shivakumar countered by questioning if the BJP had ever achieved its promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in every citizen’s bank account and repatriating offshore black money. “We are committed to our promises and we will fulfill them,” he asserted.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also called upon the BJP to abandon their obstinate position. Despite this appeal, the BJP legislators continued their demonstration, raising anti-government slogans, thereby disrupting the assembly. In response to the increasing unrest, Speaker Khader adjourned the proceedings briefly.