The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to intervene and revoke the six-month suspension of 18 BJP MLAs, calling the action unprecedented and excessive.
On Monday, a BJP delegation led by state president B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka met the Governor at Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum requesting his help in directing Assembly Speaker U T Khader to reconsider the March 21 suspension order.
The MLAs were suspended for alleged “indiscipline” after storming the Speaker’s podium and tossing documents in protest during the final day of the budget session. They were evicted by marshals after refusing to leave. The BJP’s agitation centered on opposing the 4% Muslim reservation in public tenders and demanding a judicial inquiry into the “honey-trap” scandal involving Minister K N Rajanna.
In its memorandum, the BJP insisted the protest was misconstrued as misconduct and emphasized that the act was a democratic expression near the Speaker’s Chair, not a violation of House decorum. The party asserted that under Rule 348 of the Assembly’s procedures, the suspension and subsequent restrictions are excessive and politically motivated.
Calling the penalty unjust and damaging to legislative balance, BJP leaders sought the Governor’s “good offices” to mediate a resolution that would restore the MLAs’ right to represent their constituencies without further delay.
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