Karnataka Assembly adjourned for the day

Bangalore, Apr 2 (UNI) The Karnataka Legislative Assembly was adjourned abruptly, amid noisy scenes, with the Opposition members charging the Government with ''misleading'' the House in connection with the detention of former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Mysore on March 31.

As soon as the House assembled after lunch break, Mr Siddaramaiah clarified he was made the first accused by the police in connection with rioting and over 100 people were arrested. He alleged the Government was taking political revenge and that Home Minister M P Prakash had misled the House, stating he was not arrested.

At this stage, senior Congress member Mallikarjuna Kharge rushed to his help and levelled charges against the Speaker too, saying that he had misled the House by not reading the letter sent by the police.

Speaker Krishna clarified his office had received the letter this morning and denied he had misled the House. His repeated requests to take up the matter after the Home Minister came and his clarification did not yield result. He, then adjourned the House for the day.

Earlier in the day, Mr Siddaramaiah, who gave notice of a privilege motion against his arrest, in his preliminary submission alleged he was detained by the police and his right to freedom of movement was curtailed. After hearing arguments and counter arguments, the Speaker reserved his ruling with regard to the admissibility of the privilege motion.

UNI