New Delhi (Agency): A turbulent session took place in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, as BJP members started to throw papers at the Chair. The protest erupted due to the Speaker’s decision to continue the House’s proceedings without a lunch break.
The disorderly scenes played out in the backdrop of an ongoing protest by the BJP against the Congress government. The BJP accused the Congress of improperly using IAS officers for meetings with opposition leaders in the past two days.
Rudrappa Lamani, the Deputy Speaker, was leading the proceedings when the BJP members expressed their anger. Earlier, Speaker U T Khader left, declaring that the House wouldn’t break for lunch and that the discussion on the Budget and demands would go on. He stated that those members who wished to have lunch could do so and return to the discussions later.
This incident occurred while opposition BJP and JD(S) members were demonstrating in the well of the House. They accused the Congress government of assigning 30 IAS officers to “serve” its alliance leaders. These leaders had gathered in the city on Monday and Tuesday to strategize for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Unhappy with the Speaker’s decision to continue the session amid the protests and without a lunch break, BJP members gathered for a short time. Then, they suddenly began to hurl papers at the Chair and the Deputy Speaker. They declared that the House could not be managed in this way. They demanded to know under what rule the lunch break had been cancelled.
The BJP members also consistently brought up the issue of Speaker Khader attending a dinner for opposition leaders. This dinner was hosted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday.
When several members started throwing papers at the Deputy Speaker, disapproving of the way the House was being run, Assembly Marshals shielded the Chair and tried to protect Lamani.
The Congress MLAs voiced their objection to the disorderly conduct of the BJP MLAs, leading to pandemonium. As a result, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the house for the remainder of the day.
Earlier in the day, the Assembly passed five bills without any discussion while protests by BJP and JD(S) members continued.
Following the adjournment of the House, BJP leaders, including former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, suggested they might initiate a no-confidence motion against the Speaker. Meanwhile, Congress MLAs were overheard demanding the suspension of BJP MLAs for their disruptive behavior.