Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and legislators stand during a joint session of the state Assembly at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru, on January 22. PTI
Karnataka Legislative Council adjourned, BJP demand MLC Hariprasad's suspension
BJP MLCs alleged that BK Hariprasad insulted the Governor by trying to stop him, while Congress accused Gehlot of insulting the national anthem
The Karnataka Legislative Council on Friday (January 23) witnessed an uproarious scene leading to adjournment over the alleged insult to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot by Congress MLC BK Hariprasad.
Hariprasad on Thursday (January 22) tried to stop Gehlot as other Congress legislators tried to 'gherao' him soon after he concluded his address to the joint session of the Karnataka Legislature.
BJP MLCs' demand
As soon as the session started, the BJP MLCs demanded Hariprasad’s dismissal from the House for his unruly behaviour with the Governor. "We won’t tolerate hooliganism. He has insulted the Governor. Suspend Hariprasad," the BJP MLCs shouted in chorus.
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Quickly, the Congress MLCs, along with the ministers, came in support of Hariprasad. They shouted "Reproof to the BJP".
Council chairperson Basavaraj Horatti tried to pacify the agitating MLCs and reprimanded a few of them.
The Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said the unruly behaviour of Hariprasad was not acceptable.
‘Governor insulted national anthem’
He also dismissed the Congress allegation that the Governor had insulted the national anthem, saying that it was never played as Gehlot was walking away.
"Suspend Hariprasad from the Council. We will not tolerate this hooliganism. Insult to the Governor is an insult to the Constitution,' Narayanaswamy said.
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Replying to the charges, Hariprasad said the Governor was supposed to wait till the national anthem was played, but he did not wait and walked away. This was an insult to the national anthem.
Horatti said the note on the alleged insult to the Governor does not have any names. "I have asked for the details of the joint session. Let the report come," the chairman said.
As the commotion prevailed, Horatti adjourned the House.
(With agency inputs)