Saffron brigade's 'moral policing' to haunt K'taka govt

The Opposition Congress and JDS are all set to mount a verbal attack on the BJP government in the budget session in both houses of the Karnataka legislature commencing, over the acts of "moral policing" by suspected saffron brigade activists, including the right wing Sri Rama Sene.

The Opposition Congress and JDS are all set to mount a verbal attack on the BJP government in the budget session in both houses of the Karnataka legislature commencing on Thursday, over the acts of "moral policing" by suspected saffron brigade activists, including the right wing Sri Rama Sene.

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Even as the RSS disowned the Sene stating that it was not part of the Sangh Parivar and the BJP also distancing itself from the outfit, the Sene's attack on a pub is expected to generate a lot of fireworks.

The Sene activists had barged into a pub in Mangalore on January 24 and attacked girls in the name of defending Indian "culture", an act which evoked nationwide outrage.

The BJP government, led by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, is also expected to come under attack from the opposition for the kidnap and assault of the daughter of Manjeshwar CPM MLA.

The opposition is also expected to come down heavily on the government over the suicide of a schoolgirl on February 11, after she was allegedly humiliated by suspected Sangh Parivar activists.

The lathicharge on agitating farmers for protesting against acquisition of land for the airport project in Bellary, issues concerning development works and the threat of drought looming large over parts of Karnataka are other key issues expected to come up for debate in the session, likely to last till February 27.

Yeddyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, will present the 2009-10 annual budget on February 20, which will be his fourth budget in a row.