K'taka Opposition parties boycott Assembly

Bangalore, Mar 29 (UNI) Opposition parties today boycotted the post-lunch session of the Karnataka Assembly in protest against the Speaker's "attitude".

As soon as the House assembled after lunch break, Janata Dal (United) leader J C Madhuswamy and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader G V Srirama Reddy urged the Speaker to reconsider his earlier decision regarding passage of the Karnataka Value Added Tax (Amendement) Bill.

Congress leader Ramesh Kumar too endorsed their views and urged him to allow the members to express their views.

When the Speaker did not reconsider his decision, the Opposition members, led by Leader of the Opposition N Dharam Singh, staged a walkout, after which the Speaker adjourned the House for half an hour.

Later in the lounge, Mr Singh, speaking on behalf of the Opposition parties, said they would boycott the proceedings for the day as a mark of protest. The Opposition would also meet Governor T N Chaturvedi on April 3 to apprise him of the Speaker's attitude towards them.

He charged the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition Government with attempting to ''bulldoze'' the Opposition by suppressing their freedom of expression and thereby ''betraying'' the people.

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