National News

Ruckus in Karnataka Legislative Council, dy chairman pulled down by Cong members

Congress members on Tuesday pulled down Deputy Chairman Dharme Gowda from Chairman's seat citing 'illegal sitting'; council adjourned indefinitely

Sentinel Digital Desk

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Legislative Council on Tuesday witnessed huge chaos when a group of Congress members forcefully pulled the deputy chairman S L Dharme Gowda from his seat causing the council session to adjourn indefinitely. According to reports, the deputy chairman had taken over the seat to initiate proceedings on Tuesday's special session on Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill (2020).

After escorting the Congress chairman K P Shetty into the House, the Congress legislators went straight to "evict" Dharme from the Seat, failing which they pulled him down forcefully. While a group of the legislators created fuss over opening the door through which the chairman usually enters the House, Janata Dal (Secular) and BJP legislators reached for the protection of deputy chairman Dharme before the situation came to a halt.

The entire ruckus is believed to have aroused because of its immediate earlier Session, dated December 10th, when BJP accused the Congress-party Chairman K P Shetty of adjourning the session 'abruptly'. While a no-confidence motion was moved by BJP against Chairman Shetty, no mention of the motion was made in the House today as the Chairman rejected it himself on account of "procedural lapses".

According to Congress leaders, the ruling party members made Dharme initiate the session before the Chairman arrived so that they could pass the no-confidence motion which had already been rejected. Citing 'illegal sitting', members of Congress said that the trouble escalated only because of the ruling party's incitement and "unconstitutional behaviour". The situation further worsened when a few marshals and opposing members were also allegedly manhandled before Congress forcefully making one of its Legislators sit on the chair. Members from BJP were also seen criticizing the Congress for their 'unruly' behaviour because of their alleged resentment over losing majority. However, the Council has been now adjourned sine die while the government sets to decide the next plan of action.