Suspension issue: Cong threatens enmasse resignation by MLAs

Bangalore, Jan 14 (PTI) Opposition Congress todaythreatened its MLAs would resign enmasse if the KarnatakaAssembly Speaker implemented a recommendation by a House panelto suspend 15 Congress and JDS members for their "unrulybehaviour" during the trust vote in October last.

"It (suspension of MLAs) is an undemocractic action, if ithappended. The rules of the House do not permit suspension ofmembers for an year or six month duration. The Speaker canonly suspend members for unruly scenes for a day or forshorter period", Leader of the Opposition in the AssemblySiddaramaiah (Congress) told reporters here.

"In the event of suspension of the MLAs, the Congress willbe with them. We will fight against it. We will not hesitageto resign enmasse", Siddaramaiah declared. Congress has 73members in the 224-member Assembly.

The panel, which looked into the unruly conduct of membersduring the BJP Government''s trust vote on October 11 last, hasrecommended suspension of eight MLAs from assembly membershipfor a year and seven MLAs for six months for varying reasons,including unruly behaviour by disobeying all House rules andprocedures and showing disrespect to the Speaker.

Siddaramiah said Congress would continue its agitationagainst the Yeddyurappa Government over its alleged land scamsand corruption, till it resigned.

The report of the House committee headed by BJP MLA,Appacchu Ranjan, was tabled in the assembly yesterday beforethe ten-day session was adjourned sine-die cutting short itsten-day session.

It had authorised the Speaker to decide on the suspensionof the MLAs named by the committe.