Special Session of K'taka Legislature begins in Belgaum

Belgaum, Sep 25: Marking a new chapter in the history of the Karnataka Legislature, a five-day Special Session began in this border town today.

As soon as the House assembled for the day in the Jawaharlal Nehru Auditorium of the KLE Education Society, Speaker Krishna moved the obituary reference for renowned Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan and legal luminary L G Havanur. After that Maharashtra Ekikarna Samithi (MES) legislators Digambar Patil and Manohar Kanekar voiced their protest against holding the Session in Belgaum since the border row with neighbouring Maharashtra was in the Superme Court.

However, the other members of the House countered their protest.

Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj shouted slogans against the MES protest and waved black flags.

Mr Patil and Mr Kanekar, dressed in traditional saffron head gear, green shirt and dhothi, staged a walkout.

Mr Nagaraj's attempt to display a banner against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government withdrawing an affidavit filed in favour of Karnataka in the Supreme Court, was countered by the main opposition Congress members. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Mallikarjun Kharge accused Mr Nagaraj of trying to gain cheap popularity.

The House also condemned the July 11 serial bomb blasts in suburban trains in Mumbai, in which more than 200 people lost their lives.

UNI