Bengaluru, Sep 21 (IANS): Referring to the resignation of Congress MLA B. Nagendra as a cabinet minister in connection with the Tribal Welfare scam, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said that the government had been forced to make an “innocent” person resign due to pressure from the Opposition and criticised BJP MLAs for disrupting the Assembly instead of allowing discussions on the issues they had raised.
He made the statement in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly while defending the decision to call a special session to discuss the drought situation and the Kasturirangan Report.
Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka insisted that these matters should be discussed under the Adjournment Motion he had submitted to the Speaker.
Referring to the resignation of Nagendra, Shivakumar said in the Assembly, “We have forced an innocent to resign because of pressure from the Opposition. I forced him to resign. I asked the Opposition why they were demanding his resignation. They did not speak and disrupted the House. Later, they also took out a protest march. Let them do it; in a democracy, it is allowed.”
Shivakumar maintained that there was no need for an Adjournment Motion as the government had already convened the special session to discuss the same issues.
Ashoka questioned the government on the provision under which the special session had been called and said there was no such provision under the law.
Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the Opposition had submitted the Adjournment Motion only now, while the government had already called the special session to discuss the same issues.
Shivakumar said the Opposition had disrupted the previous Monsoon Session and had not allowed him to speak for even a minute. He said the Opposition had submitted a written request to discuss the drought situation but had subsequently disrupted the proceedings, forcing the government to curtail the session by two days.
“Now, I have called a special session. Before that, I have visited various districts regarding the drought and the Kasturirangan report. Our stand on the Kasturirangan report has to be conveyed to the Centre by September 27. Considering all this, the special session has been called,” he said.
Shivakumar said he could have simply sent the previous report to the Centre, but wanted the issues to be discussed by elected representatives rather than allowing it to become his personal decision.
“The drought and Kasturirangan report must be discussed in the session. The session has been called in accordance with the wishes of the people,” he said.
He said meetings had been held in the four divisions of the state, including Kalaburagi, Belagavi and Chitradurga, with legislators to discuss the issues.
Shivakumar said 120 taluks had already been declared drought-affected, while another 100 taluks were being verified for possible inclusion.
He also said the impact of the Kasturirangan report on farmers had been brought to his notice by legislators and described the possible consequences as serious.
“MPs, MLAs and MLCs were called, and meetings were held,” he said.
Shivakumar further said the demand for the special session had not come from the Opposition and that the government had itself decided to convene it.
“It is good that the Opposition has brought an Adjournment Motion on the same matter. The Adjournment Motion is not needed. I am here to take your opinion on the matter. You can discuss the matter under any provision and for as long as required. The special session has already been called,” he said.
