Congress, BJP lock horns over George, derail house proceedings

BELAGAVI: House proceedings got derailed on Tuesday with the Congress and the BJP locking horns over Bengaluru development minister KJ George’s continuation in the cabinet. While the BJP demanded George’s resignation stating that his name was there in the FIR registered by the CBI, the ruling Congress rejected it.
There was commotion in the assembly when Speaker KB Koliwad rejected an adjournment motion moved by the BJP seeking resignation of George, who has been mentioned as ‘accused number one’ by the CBI in the suicide case of deputy SP MK Ganapathi.When the house assembled for question hour in the morning, the BJP members demanded that the adjournment motion be taken up on priority as it was a matter of public importance. Koliwad, however, did not permit them to make the preliminary submission citing recent changes in rules (which do not allow any debate till the question hour is over).
Following the question hour, leader of the opposition Jagadish Shettar made his preliminary submission and said he had three reasons to justify why the proposed adjournment motion was a matter of importance. First, since the CM had already set a precedent by asking George to resign when the CID took up the case last year, he should again seek George’s resignation in the backdrop of the FIR registered by CBI. Second, George should resign as the probability of him using his influence and power to tamper with evidence is high. Before Shettar could speak further, law minister TB Jayachandra urged the Speaker not to allow the adjournment motion as the issue was not of public importance and said the state government had no role to play as the case was being handled by the CBI, a central agency.
Admitting Jayachandra’s plea, the Speaker rejected the adjournment motion much to the chagrin of the BJP members. The pandemonium that followed forced Speaker to adjourn the house for lunch. When the house reassembled at 3pm, the BJP members protested against the Speaker’s ruling. In no mood to relent, Koliwad adjourned the house for the day. Shettar later told reporters: “This is against the principles of natural justice.” The Congress, however, hit back stating that the BJP was repeatedly raking up the issue to gain political mileage. “They are not interested in discussing issues pertaining to North Karnataka,” Jayachandra said.