President's rule extended in Karnataka

New Delhi, Apr 29: The Rajya Sabha today approved by a voice vote the extension of President's rule in Karnataka, which is going to polls in three phases in May, for six months. Laying the Statutary Motion before the House, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said that President's rule imposed in the state in November 2007 would come to an end on May 19, 2008 while the election process for the state assembly would be completed only by May 28 so it was required that the President's rule be extended.

Though President's rule could be extended for at least six months under article 356 of the Constitution, it could be revoked any time, he pointed out. The Election Commission has announced assembly polls in the state in three phases-- on May 10 for 89 assembly constituencies, on May 16 for 66 seats and on May 22 for 69 constituencies. Counting for all the seats would be held on May 25 and the election process completed by May 28, he informed.

The entire house passed the statutary resolution with a voice vote.

Earlier, while laying of the Special Mention Ms Jaya Bachchan of the Samajwadi Party tried to tell a ''fun story'' to the House but was denied permission by Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan.

Peeved at not being allowed to give details of her mention on 'concern over the denial of treatment to patients, particularly pregnant women, by hospitals in Delhi' Ms Bachchan tried to tell the story of a doctor telling a person bitten by dog about his duty being over. However, the Chair ruled that nothing would go on record and she must lay the written text of her special mention in the house.

Mr B B Tiwari of the Samajwadi Party during Zero hour pointed out the plight of farmers of Uttar Pradesh due to the apathy of the state government and the stepmotherly treatment from the Centre. He said that the FCI instead of procuring wheat from farmers directly, was taking it from traders and middlemen. These traders and middlemen were exploiting farmers who were losing Rs 100 per quintal of wheat, he claimed and asked the Centre to prevent this ''loot of farmers''.

UNI