Bengaluru: The controversial diary issue again disrupted the proceedings in the State Legislative Assembly on the second day. The Assembly session on Thursday did not conduct any business due to the protests by BJP members demanding Speaker Koliwad allow discussion on the diary issue. The dharna by BJP members made the Speaker to adjourn the House to Monday.
As soon as the House assembled on Friday morning, the BJP members continued their dharna in the Assembly and began shouting slogans demanding the Speaker allow a debate on the diary issue. Leader of Opposition Jagadish Shettar said around Rs 1,000 crore was given to Congress high command by state Congress leaders. “We want a debate on the diary issue in the House. We will not allow the ruling Congress to cover up this issue,’’ Jagadish Shettar said.
Protesting BJP legislators’ behavior in the House, ruling Congress members have opined that there was no need for a debate on the diary issue since Congress MLC Govindaraju’s diary was a fake one and BJP MLC Lehar Singh’s diary was the original one. At this juncture, Speaker Koliwad appealed BJP members to allow the House to conduct the business without any hassles but BJP members continued their protest in the House.
There was a heated argument between BJP and Congress members. “The Speaker gave permission to discuss the diary issue on Thursday but withdrew it due to the pressure from ruling Congress members. It is not fair. The Congress leaders have paid Rs 1,000 crore to Congress high command. A Rs 65-crore kickback took place in the steel flyover project. You are not allowing a discussion on this racket that involved more than Rs 1,000 crore. What does it mean?” Jagadish Shettar asked.
The BJP members dharna had angered Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. At one stage, Siddarmaaiah has said that BJP leaders are in an illusion of coming to power in the state by making false allegations against Congress. “The House has to debate on the State Budget. It is not apt to take up the diary issue for discussion. BJP leaders are telling lies on the diary issue. We (Congress) will come to power again in the state,’’ the chief minister said.
He said the BJP leaders want a debate on the fake diary. “Do you have any concern towards the people of the state? You should not have disrupted if you have any concern towards the people. The state budget is presented in the House and many taluks are reeling under severe drought. We want to discuss on the drought conditions in the state but you are not ready for it. For you, it is the fake diary that is very important and not the problems of people. You are here to do election politics. All your actions are focused on the next Assembly election. You are daydreaming of coming back to power in the state but you will not come to power at any cost. There will be no use of false allegations. People of the state are aware of your regime in the past. Your regime is known for corruption. You have been to prison for corruption. Some of the corruption cases are pending in the court. You are indulging in gimmicks for the sake of publicity. People will not believe you since the rampant corruption during your regime is still green in their memory. The voters will teach you a lesson in the next Assembly election,’’ the chief minister said.
Meanwhile, JD(S) members demanded the Speaker allow the House to debate on drought conditions and on the problems of farmers. “I am condemning Congress and BJP members for not taking drought and farmers’ issues seriously. The problems of people must be given importance. We have to discuss about the welfare measures to be taken to mitigate farmers’ woes,’’ Kona Reddy, JD(S) MLA said.
