K'taka: Congress stages dharna in Assembly

Belgaum, Sep 29: Opposition Congress, charging the State government of not serious in implementation of Dr Nanjundappa Committee report on removing regional imbalance, staged dharna in the Karnataka Assembly here today.

As soon as the House assembled, Opposition leader N Dharam Singh and Senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge took strong objection to absence of both Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his deputy B S Yediyurappa and refused to initiate debate on the implementation of the Nanjundappa Committee report.

Mr Singh charged that the absence of both Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in the session which was specially convened to give focus on the problems of Northern Karnataka was reflecting the government's hollow commitment on the issue. He demanded the Chair to ensure the presence of both Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Yediyurappa and other senior ministers to take up the debate.

Mr Kharge criticized that Mr Kumaraswamy was busy in laying foundation stones for various projects which has neither budgetary support nor administrative approval. "The Chief Minister is bluffing the people of the Northern Karnataka" he added.

The Speaker, despite the objection from the Congress members, invited members to initiate discussion on the subject. Provoked by the Speaker's action, the Congress members rushed to the well of the House and started dharna demanding the Chair to summon both Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister and participate in the debate on Nanjundappa Committee report.

At this stage Speaker Krishna, who seems to had lost the patience, told Congress leaders that they were trying to dictate the terms in conducting the House and advised them to resume to their seat.

After one hour the agitating members withdrew their dharna after Chief Minister Kumaraswamy and Home Minister M P Prakash entered the House.

UNI

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