Karnataka Assembly Speaker's Peace Appeal Fails to Break Deadlock
In a bid to resolve the ongoing impasse in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Speaker UT Khader on Wednesday made a fervent appeal to members to cease their sparring over Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot's truncated address. The governor's speech to the joint sitting of the legislature last week had sparked a major controversy, leading to repeated disruptions in House proceedings.
Speaker Urges Introspection and Smooth Functioning
Expressing his concern over the prolonged confrontation, Khader emphasized that the incidents during the governor's address and the subsequent developments had sent a wrong message to the people of Karnataka. "I appeal to all members to introspect. Let's not speak about this any longer. Let the House function smoothly," he stated. However, his plea for peace and normalcy fell on deaf ears as the political deadlock continued unabated.
BJP Demands Evidence for Phone-Tapping Allegations
The post-lunch session witnessed fresh turbulence as BJP members renewed their demand for concrete evidence to substantiate the claims made by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil. Patil had alleged that Governor Gehlot chose not to read the full speech after receiving calls from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP high command.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka argued that Patil's accusations could tarnish the image of Lok Bhavan and implied that the state government was involved in tapping the governor's phone lines. "The government must place call records in the House to prove the minister's allegation, or he must apologise," Ashoka insisted. Deputy Leader of the Opposition Aravind Bellad further cited the Indian Telegraph Act, which requires state governments to obtain permission from the Union Home Ministry before tapping any telephone line.
Patil Refuses to Back Down, Alleges Political Targeting
In a defiant stance, Minister HK Patil refused to withdraw his allegations. He challenged the BJP members to ask the Union Ministry and Lok Bhavan to deny the charges if they were not guilty. "I too am waiting curiously for a response from the Union Home Ministry and Lok Bhavan," Patil remarked. He also accused the BJP-led central government of using governors to target non-BJP state governments, particularly in southern states, and dared the opposition to seek an inquiry into the matter.
Patil reiterated his charge that Governor Gehlot had insulted the national anthem by leaving the House before it was played, adding another layer to the already heated debate.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Steps In to Defuse Tensions
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah intervened in an attempt to defuse the confrontation, clarifying that Patil had only drawn inferences and had not levelled direct accusations. "Our government has not tapped anybody's telephone and we will never do it," Siddaramaiah assured the House. He explained that Patil had merely made inferences regarding telephone calls and offered to commission an enquiry if necessary.
Siddaramaiah also defended Patil, stating that he had not insulted the governor and had, in fact, seen him off. However, the Chief Minister maintained that Governor Gehlot had violated constitutional norms by not reading the full speech prepared by the state government.
Debate Veers into Historical Flashpoints
The discussion then shifted to historical precedents, with BJP's S Suresh Kumar reading out a House record from January 6, 2011. The record indicated that Siddaramaiah, as the Leader of the Opposition at the time, had asked Governor HR Bharadwaj to stop his address to the joint session, leading to the governor laying the speech on the table.
Siddaramaiah countered this by arguing that the circumstances were different back then. He recalled that he had objected to the governor praising the then BJP government and highlighted his leadership in a padayatra against illegal mining as a point of contrast.
House Erupts Again Over Corruption Allegations
The Assembly once again descended into chaos as BJP members alleged that the present government was "more corrupt," citing cases such as Muda and Valmiki. The ruckus escalated further when BJP MLA G Janardhan Reddy accused Labour Minister Santosh Lad of involvement in illegal mining activities. The escalating tensions ultimately forced Speaker UT Khader to adjourn the House, leaving the deadlock unresolved and the state's legislative business in limbo.
The ongoing standoff highlights the deep political divisions in Karnataka and raises serious questions about the functioning of democratic institutions in the state. As both sides dig in their heels, the people of Karnataka await a resolution that would allow their elected representatives to focus on governance and development issues.
