The Karnataka Legislative Council witnessed a heated political clash on Wednesday as its Chairman, Basavaraj Horatti, firmly rejected a motion by the Congress party seeking a discussion on the National Herald case involving its top leaders. The ruling BJP and its ally JD(S) strongly opposed the move, leading to a walkout by Congress members in protest.
Chairman's Ruling and Opposition's Argument
The Chairman of the Legislative Council, Basavaraj Horatti, ruled against admitting the adjournment motion presented by Leader of the Opposition, B.K. Hariprasad. Hariprasad had sought to discuss what he termed the "political vendetta" and misuse of central investigative agencies by the BJP-led Union government, specifically targeting the case against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, MP Rahul Gandhi, and others associated with the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper.
In his ruling, Chairman Horatti cited the long-standing precedent and parliamentary procedure that matters sub-judice – those actively being considered by a court – cannot be debated in the legislature. He emphasized that the National Herald case is currently under judicial scrutiny, making it inadmissible for discussion in the Council. This decision was immediately supported by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil and JD(S) MLC Marithibbe Gowda, who both argued that discussing a sub-judice matter would be inappropriate and against legislative norms.
Congress Protest and Accusations of Vendetta
Following the rejection, Congress members, led by B.K. Hariprasad, staged a walkout from the Council chamber. They expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Chairman's decision, framing it as a denial of their right to raise a critical issue of alleged political targeting.
In his arguments before the ruling, Hariprasad had accused the central government of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation against the principal opposition party. He claimed the case, which involves allegations of financial irregularities in the acquisition of AJL assets by Young Indian Pvt Ltd, was a clear example of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other agencies being weaponized for political gains. The Congress maintains that the case is baseless and designed to harass its leadership.
BJP-JD(S) Stand and Political Implications
The BJP and JD(S) members stood united in their opposition to the Congress motion. Their primary contention was strictly procedural, focusing on the sub-judice nature of the case. By blocking the discussion, the ruling alliance effectively prevented the Congress from using the Council platform to amplify its narrative of political persecution ahead of crucial elections.
This incident underscores the deep political fault lines in Karnataka and at the national level. It highlights the Congress's strategy to publicly challenge and dramatize legal actions against its leaders, while the BJP counters by insisting on adherence to legal and procedural propriety. The event has further intensified the ongoing war of words between the two national parties, with Karnataka's legislative bodies becoming a key battleground.
The rejection of the motion signifies a temporary setback for the Congress's attempt to keep the National Herald case in the political spotlight through legislative debate. However, it ensures that the legal proceedings will remain a central point of political contention outside the walls of the Council.
