Bengaluru: As the standoff over the alleged suicide by a Deputy Superintendent of Police persisted, Opposition parties continued their protests in the Karnataka Assembly for the fifth day today, sticking to their demand for sacking Minister K J George and a CBI probe into the incident.
Continuing their overnight dharna in the House for the second day, BJP and JDS members shouted anti-government slogans from the well, refusing to settle for anything less than meeting their twin demands by the government.
As soon as the Assembly met, Opposition members entered the well of the House and raised slogans against the government for its “adamant” stand in protecting George.
Speaker K B Koliwada appealed to the members to maintain order and allow him to conduct Question Hour but it went unheeded.
As pandemonium prevailed, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon. As it re-assembled, the Opposition resumed protests.
Sensing the belligerent mood of the Opposition, government managed to secure passage of five bills, including Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill 2016, without any debate amid din.
As the bills were being put to voice vote, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar said the government has thrown all Constitutional norms to the winds by introducing the bills and passing them today itself.
He also said it is ironical that the government is passing the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, even as the entire state is “gripped” with Deputy SP M K Ganapathy’s suicide.
“Nothing is as shameful as this, that the government is introducing the bills and passing them in few minutes.”
“Itis also ironical, it is passing police bill even as the state is gripped in Ganapathy’s suicide case,” he added.
JDS member Y S V Datta also demanded the resignation of George.
Even as the Opposition raised slogans against the government, the Speaker after passage of the bills adjourned the proceedings to July 18.
Meanwhile speaking to reporters after the session, Shettar said BJP would continue its overnight dharna fromMonday.
BJP and JDS launched a day-night protest in the House on Wednesday, insisting on a CBI enquiry and sacking of George, named by deceased official Ganapathy along with two top police officials for his extreme step.
Ganapathy (51) was found hanging from the ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri on July 7, prior to which he gave an interview to a local TV channel, saying the minister and A M Prasad (IG-Intelligence) and Pranab Mohanty (IGP- Lokayukta) would be responsible “if anything happens to me”.
(Agencies)
