Bengaluru: The opposition BJP and JD(S) on Wednesday forced the Karnataka Legislative Assembly to be adjourned for a brief period after raising strong objections over the empty treasury benches.
As soon as the Assembly met for the day, most treasury benches were empty, with only a couple of Ministers present in the House.
Opposition leaders and members strongly objected to their absence and urged the Chair to adjourn the House briefly to send a “strong message.”
Raising the issue, senior BJP MLA Suresh Kumar said the Assembly is witnessing a “real drought” today and questioned the ruling party’s Chief Whip, Ashok Pattan about the situation.
As Speaker G S Patil sought to proceed with a congratulatory note to veteran actor Anant Nag on winning the Dadasaheb Phalke award, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka objected and targeted the ruling side over the empty treasury benches.
“We also want to congratulate and speak, but this matter must be addressed first. This session was called to discuss the drought situation in the state and the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats eco-sensitive zones. These are important issues. You (Speaker) have convened the House at the right time, I will compliment you for that, but look at the situation here. I request you adjourn the House for ten minutes to send a strong message,” he told the Speaker.
The LoP also attacked Chief Whip Pattan, and asked the Chair to adjourn the House and instruct the Whip to ensure Ministers are present.
“Let him call and make everyone come here. Let a message be sent; please adjourn the House for some time,” he said. Only two Ministers — Krishna Byre Gowda and Santosh Lad — were present in the House.
Some ruling side members opposed the adjournment and wanted the Speaker to proceed with the day’s business, stating that others would join subsequently.
“Is this the way to congratulate someone for his achievements?” Ashoka asked the treasury benches.
“There should be some respect. Anant Nag has received the highest award in cinema and entertainment, and he is from Karnataka. There are no Ministers even to congratulate him. Why should we congratulate him like this? There is no meaning to this. The treasury benches are empty. It will appear in papers tomorrow that the Assembly with empty benches congratulated Anant Nag. Will it bring us respect?” he questioned.
Intervening, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda requested that the motion to congratulate Anant Nag be initiated now.
Suresh Kumar hit back and asked, “What would have happened if the President had given the Phalke award to Anant Nag in everyone’s absence?”
Gowda said, he was only suggesting that the proceedings begin and assured the House that the ministers would be asked to attend. “Let’s pass the motion congratulating Anant Nag together.”
Deputy Leader of Opposition Arvind Bellad pointed out that the President herself was present to honour Nag yesterday. “Why can’t the Ministers and MLAs be present here? What is this? The Assembly is empty.”
He demanded that the chair adjourn the House for some time and take a “bold decision.”
As Gowda insisted that the proceedings continue, LoP Ashoka threatened to walk out.
“Adjourn the House for ten minutes. Let some seven to eight sensitive Ministers come to the Assembly. Let other Ministers who have been chosen on payment and want to remain at Home remain there itself. Let payment ministers go anywhere they want and those who have become Ministers without payment come to the Assembly,” he said.
At this point, some Congress MLAs objected to usage of words “payment Ministers” and asked if Ashoka became Minister on payment in the past. They urged Ashoka to reveal who the “payment Ministers” were.
Following repeated insistence from opposition members, the Speaker then adjourned the House for some time.
Later when the House resumed, Congress MLA K Shadakshari urged the chair to expunge Ashoka’s usage of the word “payment Minister”. This led to some argument between ruling and opposition members.
Minister Gowda intervened and said the Chair would take a decision on Shadakshari request and urged the House to proceed with the motion congratulating Nag.
The Speaker then read out the congratulatory note, following which legislators from all parties spoke in appreciation of Nag and his contribution to the world of cinema.
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