Abrupt end to Karna Assembly session amid Opposition boycott

Bangalore, Jan 13 (PTI) The Karnataka Assembly wasadjourned sine die today as the Opposition-BJP logjampersisted over the nature of debate on alleged scams againstthe Yeddyurappa government, bringing an abrupt end to aturbulent session.

Sensing the mood of Opposition Congress and JDS whichshowed no signs of relenting on their demand for discussionthrough adjournment motion, Speaker K G Bopaiah adjourned theHouse, scheduled to meet till January 20.

The premature end to the 10-day session came withOpposition benches empty this afternoon but not before theslated legislative proceedings such as tabling of reports andpassing of legislations were completed as also adoption of themotion of thanks to the governor for his address.

The session was stormy right from day one on January 6with the Opposition preventing Governor H R Bhardwaj fromdelivering the customary address to the joint session andforcing him to just lay it on the table of the House.

Congress and JDS, showing signs of bonhomie and inperfect floor coordination, had repeatedly sought to highlightissues of alleged corruption, favouritism and nepotism by theBJP government demanding a debate through adjournment motionsetting aside other business.

In no mood to oblige, the ruling party took the viewthat the Opposition would have ample scope to discuss thoseissues during a debate on thanking the governor for hisaddress, but it was not acceptable to Congress and JDS causingimpasse.

The Opposition staged a walk-out in the pre-lunchsession in protest against not being allowed to raise theissues under adjournment motion and did not return to theHouse in the afternoon, when the government passed the bills.

"I am deeply hurt," Bopaiah said as he adjourned theHouse sine die. The Opposition had ample opportunity todiscuss those issues but they insisted on doing so in one formonly. "It''s unfortunate".

Bopaiah also said the Opposition did not attend thebusiness advisory committee meetings which are aimed athelping conduct proceedings in the House smoothly.

"For the first time in our history, they boycotted theGovernor''s address...prevented him from delivering it. It hashurt me immensely," the Speaker said.

The Opposition staged a dharna on Friday and Mondayand boycotted the proceedings in the last two days while thegovernment ignored it all and went ahead with officialbusiness.

At the peak of the Opposition drama yesterday,theatrics took over with JDS members blowing conch and beatingcymbals trying to march into the House carrying a suitcasecontaining documents claimed to be evidences of corruption.