Bengaluru: BJP members in the Assembly have withdrawn their dharna on Monday. The BJP members were protesting in support of their demand for a debate on the diary seized by Income Tax officials and Enforcement Directorate from Congress MLC Govindaraju’s residence. It is alleged the diary has the details on the payment made to Congress high command by the state Congress leaders.
As soon as the House assembled, BJP members trouped into the well of the House and continued their dharna. After some time, Leader of Opposition Jagadish Shettar has said the purpose of the dharna was to have a debate on the details of the payment made to Congress high command by the state leaders. “The people of the state have the right to clear their doubts on the diary. We want the government to clear the doubts on the diary issue but it seems the government is adamant and doesn’t want a debate on the diary issue. We are withdrawing the dharna in the interest of people in drought-affected areas. We are withdrawing our agitation to facilitate a debate on the drought condition in the state,’’ Jagadish Shettar said.
Earlier, Speaker K B Koliwad appealed the agitating members to withdraw their agitation in the interest of people in drought-affected areas. The Speaker has said the Assembly needs to discuss the drought condition in the state and also a debate should be held on the State Budget. “I appeal the agitating members to withdraw their agitation. All of them have to cooperate to make the proceedings of Karnataka Assembly as a role model for other State Assemblies in the country,’’ the Speaker said.
Meanwhile, Jagadish Shettar has said the Assembly has to debate on the issues such as drought, Kasturirangan report on western ghats. “Our objective is not to waste the precious time of the House. We are here to extend our cooperation to a meaningful and useful discussion. We also want to debate the diary issue but the ruling party is adamant on this issue by not cooperating with us,’’ Shettar said.
Reacting to Shettar’s criticism, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah came down heavily on BJP leaders’ behavior in the Assembly. It leads to an exchange of words between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and BJP members. “The BJP members are stating dharna in the House demanding a debate on a fake diary. They are wasting time by raising the diary issue. Despite Supreme Court’s judgment stating that it cannot take such diaries seriously. The public began chiding BJP members for wasting time in the House. So, now they are withdrawing their agitation,’’ the chief minister said.
Continuing his criticism, the chief minister said the BJP leaders have looted the state during their regime. “The BJP leaders have no shame. They have looted crores of rupees during their regime. Jagadish Shettar has also looted the state during his regime. Now, these leaders are talking about corruption. It is like devil talking about Bhagawad Gita. They have no shame at all,’’ he said.
