The BJP legislators staged dharna in the Karnataka Assembly on the last day of the Winter Session on Friday demanding the resignation of Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya, whose wife was allegedly caught in a sting operation by a local TV channel accepting bribe at his official residence. The Congress found this an opportunity to get all the important Bills pushed through without any debate.
Six bills — including amendment to Panchayat Raj Act, which was renamed as Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Bill — were passed. Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Bill envisages Minister of State rank to Zilla Panchayat Presidents, five-year term for ZP president and more powers to members of the Zilla, Taluk and Gram Panchayats.
The Opposition BJP and JD(S) also stalled the proceedings in Assembly demanding rejection of the petition to move the motion to remove Justice Adisaying that the Congress was on to destroy the lokayukta organisation in Karnataka, after the State had heralded setting up of the anti-corruption watchdog way back in early 1980s.
The BJP said charges levelled by Congress legislators was not maintainable and it was politically motivated to safeguard the corrupt politicians of the ruling party and its ‘obedient’ corrupt bureaucrats in high places.
Similar scene was witnessed in the upper house when BJP members continued to demand the ouster of Anjaneya and also opposed the Congress move to remove the Upalokayukta. However, the ruling party has not moved any petition in the elder’s house in this regard.
Under the recently amended the Karnataka lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (lA Bill No 31 of 2015), either of the Houses, with one-third of members signing a petition, can move a motion to seek removal of lokayukta or Upalokayukta or both.
The session witnessed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah present the Supplementary estimates (second installment) amounting to Rs 2,350 crore was accepted by the Assembly, while the mid-year review of State’s Finances in relation to the State Budget, was also adopted.
In the melee, the Congress motion to impeach Upalokayukta Subash Adi was also admitted by the Speaker Kagodu Thimappa. The BJP reasoning for a discussion on the matter was ignored by the Speaker who rushed through the admission of the impeachment motion moved by Congress MlA Tanveer Sait.
At the legislative Council also the drama continued over the expunging of words by Deputy Chairman Marithibbe Gowda. However, Chairman DH Shankarmurthy pacified the BJP by stating that he will look into the legalities of the matter and come back with a ruling.
But no sooner was the order pronounced, the BJP tried to move an adjournment motion demanding the removal of Anjaneya and discussing the alleged bribery charges against him which was exposed by a private Kannada channel.
The Government pushed through the tabling and passing of all Bills in the Council, as the chairman Shankarmurthy refused to allow a discussion on the matter.