K’taka: BJP, JD-S disrupt Assembly over tribal welfare scam
Bengaluru: BJP, along with JD‑S members, staged a protest inside the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra, who is facing allegations in connection with the tribal welfare corporation scam.
Opposition members, wearing black shawls, raised slogans against the Congress government and also targeted Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, disrupting proceedings in the House.
LoP R. Ashoka questioned how the government could have transferred funds to around 600 bank accounts and demanded answers from the government.
During the uproar, BJP and JD‑S members shouted slogans asking, “Where did the Dalit money go?” and alleged that the funds had gone to Rahul Gandhi’s residence.
Ashoka displayed a copy of the CBI chargesheet filed against Nagendra and others, intensifying the opposition’s demand to remove him from the Cabinet.
Minister for Bengaluru Development Krishna Byre Gowda condemned the protest, saying the opposition had crossed the limits of legislative conduct and violated members’ rights.
“Their slogans and statements should not go on record. The session is becoming a playground for their goondaism,” Gowda said.
Home, IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge said the government was ready to respond to questions raised by the opposition but questioned why the BJP was not allowing the House to function.
“We are ready to answer questions. Why are you not allowing the session to function?” Kharge asked.
Ashoka, addressing Speaker G.S. Patil, said the Assembly should not be run for the benefit of an individual.
The Speaker subsequently said that under Rule 69, the House would take up a discussion on the drought situation, as suggested by JD‑S MLA H.D. Revanna and others. Ashoka objected, saying nobody had sought such a discussion at that point.
Gowda countered that if the opposition did not want to discuss the issue, that was a different matter, adding that the drought situation was relevant to the proceedings. JD‑S floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu said the House was not in order and urged the Speaker to first resolve the disruption before allowing any discussion.
The proceedings witnessed further heated exchanges when Municipal Administration Minister H.C. Balakrishna and Ashoka engaged in a verbal duel. Ashoka criticised Balakrishna, saying he was junior to him and questioning his political credentials.
Priyank Kharge also hit back at the opposition, saying the government did not need to take lessons from those who had allegedly “burgled the temple’s money.”
Later, Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah stood up to criticise the BJP. Opposition members immediately responded by raising “MUDA” slogans, referring to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority controversy involving Yathindra Siddaramaiah’s father and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The repeated protests and counter-protests disrupted the Assembly as the opposition continued to press for Nagendra’s resignation and the government sought to proceed with the scheduled business of the House. Speaker Patil adjourned the House amid the chaos.