Assembly passes motion of thanks to Gov address

Bangalore, Mar 2: Karnataka Legislative Assembly today ( Mar 2, 2006) passed the motion of thanks to the Governor's second address to the joint session of the Legislature by voice vote, amidst noisy scenes and dharna by the opposition members.

The opposition members led by the Congress had been protesting against Speaker Krishna's ruling on the validity of the Governor's second address delivered on February 24, saying it was ''unconstitutional.'' Following the protests, no official business could be transacted in the last three days.

However, the stalemate continued when the House assembled for the day in the afternoon. As soon as the Speaker took up the official business, Leader of the Opposition N Dharam Singh and others trooped into the well of the House. They kept shouting slogans, even as the Speaker explained the circumstances that led to his ruling on the issue.

Though the Speaker read out loudly the letters written by him to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats and the reply to it, nothing could be heard in the din.

Amidst protest, Former Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad, who had tabled the motion of thanks, initiated the discussion and completed it within a few minutes. BJP leader Visweswara Hegde Kageri seconded the motion and completed his address in a similar manner.

Then the motion was put to voice vote and passed amidst slogan shouting by the Opposition members. The House was adjourned for lunch after passing the Supplementary Estimates for the year 2005-06 by voice vote.

UNI