The Karnataka Legislative Council on Tuesday, 15 December, was adjourned indefinitely soon after it began a day-long session amid ruckus.
High drama erupted in the Council after the Deputy Chairman, a member of JD(S), occupied the chair before Chairman K Prathapachandra Shetty could enter the House and do so.
BJP members reportedly prevented the Chairman from chairing the one-day session, while Congress members in the House evicted the Deputy Chairman from the chair.
The ruckus created eventually led to Shetty adjourning the House, once he was allowed to enter.
Condemnable, Says CM
Reacting to the developments on Tuesday, Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa said, “When the Congress does not have a majority in the council, why are they hell-bent on holding the chair?”
“It is condemnable the way a Deputy Chairperson was treated in the Council today,” he said, adding that the Congress Chairperson should resign immediately and let go of the chair.
He also said that BJP and JD(S) MLCs will be submitting a memorandum to the Governor regarding Tuesday’s ruckus.
Clash Between BJP, Cong Members
Around 11:10 am, the deputy speaker, Dharme Gowda from the JD(S), was seen sitting in the chair of the House, as the BJP moved the no-confidence motion. During this time, BJP leaders allegedly held the door from where the Chairperson, Prathap Chandra Shetty from the Congress, was to enter the council hall.
Congress leaders soon questioned as to why the deputy chairman was in the chair and this led to a clash between BJP and Congress members.
Congress members walked up to the chair and pulled the Deputy Chairperson from the chair of the House. Subsequently, Congress member Basavaraj Patil Itagi was seen in the chair while the Congress members were standing around him.
Meanwhile, the JDS-BJP members continued to demand that the no-confidence motion filed against the Chairperson be brought into motion. By then, the Chairperson for the council had entered the House and adjourned the session indefinitely, at around 12pm.
Violation of Provisions: Congress
Addressing the media after the adjournment, SR Patil, Leader of Opposition, Karnataka Legislative Council, said it was wrong, adding, “This goes against the very provisions, rules and procedures of the Legislative Council.”
Apart from a no-confidence motion against the Chairman, the controversial Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020 was also expected to be tabled in the session.
Controversial Anti-Cow Slaughter Bill
Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020 was passed in the Karnataka Assembly on 9 December, amid protests from the Opposition. As per the Bill, cattle slaughter will now be punished with imprisonment of three to five years. The fine on a violator can range from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh, along with imprisonment.
For a bill to become law, its passage in the Council, followed by assent by the Governor, is necessary.
Council Chairman Shetty had adjourned the session sine die on 10 December. The BJP government petitioned the Governor and decided to convene the House.
The ruling BJP would need the support of Janata Dal (Secular) to get the Bill passed in the Council. The BJP has only 31 members in a House of 75. The Congress legislature party (CLP) has issued a whip to all its members to attend the Council proceedings on Tuesday.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)