Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj was not allowed to deliver his customary address to the joint sitting of the state legislature on Thursday amid boisterous slogan shouting by opposition members demanding Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa’s resignation.
As soon as the governor entered the assembly hall, members of the Congress and the JD(S) were on their feet urging Bhardwaj from reading out a speech prepared by the Yeddyurappa ministry.
Opposition leader Siddaramiah of the Congress and JD(S) leader HD Revanna accused Yeddyurappa of nepotism in allotting prime land in and around Bangalore to his kin.
They also said the CM should quit over other scams involving his ministerial colleagues.
As the commotion escalated, an agitated Bharadwaj — who is often in conflict with the ruling BJP — obliged the opposition and left the hall after the national anthem was played.
His speech was tabled before the House and speaker KG Bopaiah adjourned it till Friday. This was the first such incident in the history of the state legislature.
The legislature has witnessed occasions when governors have ignored protests and completed their customary address though some times they have terminated the speech midway.
{{/usCountry}}The legislature has witnessed occasions when governors have ignored protests and completed their customary address though some times they have terminated the speech midway.
{{/usCountry}}BJP members, who remained tightlipped during the protest, later condemned the incident.
“The opposition parties could not digest the party’s win in the recent local governing council elections,” Yeddyurappa told reporters later.
The BJP had won 12 of the 30 zila panchyat (district councils) and 68 out of 176 taluk panchayats (sub-district councils).
“People had a right to know what the government had done in the last year. The Congress and JD(S) have denied the people of this right,” the chief minister said. (With PTI inputs)