26 Congress members suspended from K'taka Council

Bangalore, Feb 13: The agitating 26 Congress members of the Karnataka Legislative Council were today suspended en masse for the rest of the session for continuously stalling the House proceedings.

When the House assembled, JD(U) members Dr M P Nadagouda and Basavaraj Bommai rushed to the well of the House in protest against the adjournment of the House for the last eight days without transacting any business and demanded that the Chair allow them to discuss various issues like Cauvery and the prevailing drought situation.

However, the main Opposition Congress members, led by Leader of the Opposition H K Patil, reiterated their demand for holding election to the post of House Chairman and urged Officiating Chairman N Thipanna to quit the Chair.

Pandemonium prevailed when the treasury benches raised slogans against the Congress for not allowing the House to take up any issue.

Mr Thipanna appealed to the agitating members to resume their seats, but nothing was heard in the din. Quoting Rule 327(1) and (2) of the rules and procedure of the House, Mr Thipanna ordered the suspension of 26 Congress members for the rest of the session for obstructing the conduct of the House and adjourned it for the day without transacting any business.

UNI