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Friday, January 21, 2011

BJP calls for Karnataka bandh


Violence was reported in various districts overnight as BJP called for a bandh on Saturday seeking Governor H R Bhardwaj's removal. Buses were set afire in at least four northern districts of Karnataka. Schools and colleges closed  in the state. Bus services were halted in Bangalore. BJP plans protest rallies in every district headquarter and a march to the Raj Bhawan has been planned in Bangalore at noon. BJP also plans to approach the high court on Saturday against the Governor's sanction to prosecute Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa. Bhardwaj on Friday gave sanction for the prosecution of Yeddyurappa in land scams and other corruption cases.

Amid high drama, JD-S members on Wednesday attempted to enter the Karnataka Assembly in a procession, blowing conch shells and carrying a big suitcase with documents claimed to be evidence of corruption against the BJP Government. Apparently, to hit back at Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who on Tuesday threatened to expose former prime minister, H D Devegowda's family's "misdeeds" with documentary evidence, JD-S members came armed with the "documents" relating to the BJP Government's alleged scams. JD-S members, led by H D Revanna, son of Devegowda, came in a procession blowing conch shells and beating a bronze cymbal and tried to enter the Assembly, but were prevented by marshals who also refused entry to some party MLAs holding placards. Speaker K G Bopaiah, who was not aware of the JD-S protest, ordered the marshals to allow the MLAs to come in after Opposition leader Siddaramaiah brought the incident of denial of their entry to his notice. As a group of MLAs brought a big sized suitcase and displayed placards against the government, a shocked Speaker ordered marshals to remove the materials from the House. "Yesterday the Chief Minister brought a suitcase and showed to the House that he had documents against Devegowda and his sons. Today we have brought documents over Yeddyurappa's scandals," Revanna and his party colleague, H C Balakrishna said, defending their action. When the House plunged into pandemonium, Bopaiah warned JD-S members that he would name them while Law Minister S Suresh Kumar rose to move a motion for their suspension. Siddaramaiah said this was not for the first time that placards had made way into the House and pointed out that during the Bharat Bandh last year, the Speaker had permitted BJP members to protest holding placards. This apparently made the BJP government rethink the process of suspending the JD-S members. 

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