Oppn stops minister from tabling varsity report

bangalore: opposition members in the upper house on friday succeeded in preventing higher education minister g. parameshwar from presenting the joint select committee's report on universities on grounds that it had lost its character following the abrupt resignation of some opposition members. at the end of an hour's acrimonious debate, acting chairman david simeon announced that the issue would be resolved in his chambers on monday by consulting the treasury and opposition members.when parameshwar sought to present the committee's report, opposition leader k.h. srinivas objected on the ground that it had lost its character with some members resigning. ``you call it by any name but not report of the joint select committee.'' srinivas was supported by d.h. shankar murthy and b.s. yediyurappa (both bjp), b.s. horatti and m.p. nadagouda (jd-u) and m.c. nanaiah (jd) who were unanimous in their opinion that the report could not be called as that of the joint select committee. the members had resigned protesting against the ruling party members' `partisan' attitude. refuting the allegations, parameshwar asserted that the meeting's proceedings were made available to all members while several had even given a note of dissent to various clauses. ``the members have resigned for no valid reason,'' he maintained. according to parameshwar, the committee hadn't lost its character just because a few members resigned. ``there are members from other parties also and hence the committee continues to be called as the joint select committee. moreover, the note of dissent given by the members has been incorporated in the report.'' srinivas suggested that the issue be resolved in the chairman's chambers on monday. the house was adjourned for the day.