K'taka Assembly witnesses uproarious scenes

Bangalore, Mar 23: The Karnataka Assembly was today adjourned amidst uproarious scenes as two senior members of the Janata Dal (secular) indulged in a verbal duel and virtually came to blows over a remark made by a opposition member.

The political differences between former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Mr G T Deve Gowda, both hailing from Mysore district, came to the fore when Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj praised Mr Siddaramaiah for the measures initiated by him during his tenure as Finance Minister to ensure financial discipline in the state during a debate on the budget for 2006-07.

Mr Siddaramaiah was still technically a JD(S) member though he had been suspended from the party and had floated a new party --All India Progressive Janata Dal.

Provoked by Mr Nagaraj's remark, Mr Deve Gowda made certain comments against Mr Siddaramaiah, triggering angry exchange of words between the two leaders and their supporters.

Even as senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjuna Kharge, were appealing to Speaker Krishna to adjourn the House for a brief period to defuse the tense situation, the two leaders almost came to blows. However, former Speaker Ramesh Kumar (Congress) and other members, including Religious Endownments and Muzrai Minister Nagaraja Shetty intervened and prevented them.

The Speaker adjourned the House for ten minutes following a suggestion from Leader of the Opposition N Dharam Singh.

When the House reassembled, Mr Nagaraj complained that there was no protection for him in the House and alleged that Mr Deve Gowda threatened him during the adjournment. He also tore a copy of the budget and other papers on the table.

However, when he tried to walkout, JD (U) members Madhuswamy and Mr Ramesh Kumar pacified him and brought him back to his seat.

Mr Singh charged the Speaker with having failed in his duty to control the members and ensure orderliness in the House.

Meanwhile, several bills were tabled by Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar and Higher Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy.

The Speaker then adjourned the House for the day.

UNI