Opposition continues to boycott Assembly session in Karnataka

Bangalore,Jun 6: The opposition today (June 6) continued their boycott of Legislative Assembly proceedings, demanding resignation of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Speaker K G Bopaiah in view of "strictures" passed against them by Supreme Court while quashing the disqualification of 16 MLAs.

JDS had announced that it would boycott the entire session, supposed to last ten days but now appears that it would be cut short, while the Congress is staying away from the proceedings from Friday last.The session began on June 2.

The government's stand is that the apex had not passed any strictures, but only made certain observations on the disqualification order passed by Bopaiah.

As the House met today, Bopaiah said in a democracy, participation of opposition is needed in debates and while passing of bills, and again appealed to them to take part.

Yeddyurappa said ever since he became Chief Minister, the opposition had been resorting to such steps for one reason or the other, adding, despite the opposition's "disparaging" remarks against the Speaker,Government is ready to cooperate with them.

Three independent MLAs--P M Narendra Swamy, Venkataramanappa and Shivaraj S Thangadagi --argued that it's not a "good tradition" to have proceedings, particularly passage of bills, in the absence of opposition, and staged a walkout.

The Speaker said he tried to contact Opposition leaders but it did not bear fruit, while Law Minister S Suresh Kumar said as much outside the House.

PTI