The stalemate over tabling of the contentious special report of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission on wakf properties, which continued for the fourth consecutive day in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, resulted in the House being adjourned sine die a day ahead of schedule.
While the Opposition members continued their dharna in the well of the House holding placards and raising slogans, the Karnataka Appropriation Bill was adopted by a voice vote.
Six Bills approved
As many as six Bills were also approved amid noisy scenes. The Bills are Karnataka Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Karnataka Appropriation Bill, 2016; Karnataka Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Karnataka Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Karnataka Stamp (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016, and Karnataka Stamp (Third Amendment) Bill, 2016.
In his brief reply to the discussion on the State Budget proposals amid the din, the Chief Minister described the budget as “growth oriented”.
The House that met for a short while in the morning was adjourned till 3.30 p.m. as the Opposition members, led by their leader K.S. Eshwarappa, continued their dharna in the well of the House holding placards, and they refused to withdraw the protest despite repeated pleas by Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy.
When the House met again in the afternoon, the Opposition members continued their dharna. Holding placards, they raised slogans demanding that the report — submitted to the then Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda by the then commission chairman Anwar Manippady in March 2012 — be tabled. Marithibbe Gowda, who was in the chair, then adjourned the House sine die .
