Karnataka assembly becomes protest forum

Ruling BJP legislators turned the legislative assembly into a forum for protest as part of Bharat Bandh, preventing the House from transacting business on Monday.

For the first time in the history of the Karnataka assembly, MLAs were seen holding placards and shouting slogans against the fuel price hike under the leadership of former minister Shobha Karandlaje.

This led to a war of words with the opposition and adjournment of the House.

Speaker KG Bopaiah kept appealing, but the members would not relent. “Who allowed placards inside the legislative assembly? It is not in the interest of democratic spirit, I will take action,” he said.
But BJP members ignored the warning and kept shouting “down, down UPA” and “UPA shame, shame”.

In retaliation, leader of opposition Siddaramaiah demanded that chief minister BS Yeddyurappa reduce taxes on petroleum products if the BJP government was really concerned about the common man.

“The state is imposing a 30% tax on petroleum products. It can be reduced to 25%. If the government reduces tax by 5%, the revenue will see only a marginal dip that can be covered up. Taxes are very high in Karnataka compared to other states,” he said.