BJP, Congress members nearly come to blows in Karnataka house
July 9th, 2010 - 8:24 pm ICT by IANS
Bangalore, July 9 (IANS) Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition Congress members virtually came to blows in the Karnataka assembly Friday over the illegal iron ore mining issue, even after Speaker K.G. Bopaiah adjourned the proceedings till Monday.
The provocation was a threat by a ruling party legislator to the opposition after the adjournment.
Earlier, tempers ran high as Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa lost his cool and shouted: “What do you mean? If you do not want me to answer, I will throw (the papers in his hand) and go” at Leader of Opposition Siddaramiah over his repeated demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into illegal mining in the state.
Siddaramiah retorted: “Are you threatening to launch a fight?”. At this stage, both BJP and Congress members started shouting at each other and nothing could be heard in the din.
The Congress leader’s insistence on a CBI probe came when Yeddyurappa was replying to a discussion on the resignation of Lok Ayukta (ombudsman) N. Santosh Hegde protesting the government’s indifference to fighting corruption and checking illegal mining in the state. Hegde has since withdrawn his resignation.
Siddaramaiah led his party members for a sit-in in front of the speaker’s podium against Yeddyurappa’s behaviour and continued the protest even after the chief minister apologised for loosing his temper.
Congress members also objected to Yeddyurappa agreeing to break his speech to allow mining baron and Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy to make a submission on the illegal mining issue.
With no sign of the din ending despite repeated appeal, the speaker adjourned the house and left.
It was then a ruling party member remarked: “Come to Bellary, we will see you.” Reddy and his two brothers Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy and assembly member G. Somashekara Reddy belong to Bellary and own iron ore mines.
This was taken as a threat by Congress members who strongly objected to “goondagiri” (thug-like behaviour).
Senior members of the two parties however intervened and managed to prevent the situation frpm turning into a free for all.
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- BJP fights former patrons in 'Republic of Bellary' (Karnataka Newsletter) - Nov 26, 2011
- Criminal involvement of Yeddyurappa in mining scam: Santosh Hegde (Interview) - Jul 24, 2011
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- Karnataka speaker accepts Reddy supporter's resignation - Oct 14, 2011
- Reddy brothers not involved in illegal mining: Yeddyurappa - Nov 09, 2010
- Yeddyurappa disapproves of Reddys' Bellary show - Jul 30, 2010
- CBI to quiz Reddy brothers over illegal mining - Sep 15, 2011
- Karnataka bans iron ore exports - Jul 29, 2010
Tags: adjournment, apologised, assembly member, bjp, cbi probe, central bureau of investigation, chief minister, congress leader, congress members, iron ore mines, iron ore mining, leader of opposition, lok ayukta, opposition congress, party member, party members, revenue minister, ruling party, santosh, tourism minister