Oppn, suspended JD (S) members stage walkout in K'taka Assembly

Bangalore, July 18 (UNI) The main Opposition Congress and suspended JD(S) members today staged a walkout in the Karnataka Assembly following Speaker Krishna's refusal to allow former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to make a statement in the House before resigning his Assembly seat.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, Mr Siddaramaiah again requested the Speaker to allow him to make a statement as it was his bounden duty to inform his voters in Chamundeswari constituency in Mysore about his future course of action. However, the Chair refused permission, stating the Rules did not permit members to make such statements before resigning their membership.

Consequenly, Mr Siddaramaiah and his supporters staged a walkout.

They were soon joined by Congress members led by Leader of the Opposition N Dharam Singh.

Later, the members told Mr Krishna that it was unfortunate the House had passed the Money Bill providing for release of Rs 45,000 crore for various departments, without discussing the functioning of a single department. This reflected very badly on the House, they felt.

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