The diary controversy led to a ruckus in the Legislative Assembly finally leading to an early adjournment of the House on Thursday.
It all began when the principal Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party wanted a discussion on the diary allegedly seized from the residence of a Congress MLC showing pay-offs by State Congress leaders to the party high command.
Noisy scenes and a dharna unfolded after Speaker K.B. Koliwad, who granted permission at first, withdrew it following objections by senior Congress Ministers T.B. Jayachandra and K.R. Ramesh Kumar.
As soon as leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar began to speak, Mr. Jayachandra raised objections drawing parallels with the Sahara case.
He said the Solicitor-General of the then NDA government had expressed a view that it was not proper to consider “random and loose sheets” as evidence of payment.
‘No jurisdiction’
Mr. Ramesh Kumar added that it was not proper to allow any discussion on the diary as the Income Tax Department was yet to complete its investigation.
“The House does not have jurisdiction over I-T Department to summon officials to know the status of inquiry. How can we discuss issues that are beyond our jurisdiction?” said Mr. Ramesh Kumar.
Upholding the objections of Ministers, the Speaker withdrew the permission granted and asked Mr. Shettar not to continue.
This infuriated the BJP members, who trooped into the well of the House and began a dharna demanding that the Speaker not yield to pressure from the government.
They started shouting slogans against the government, and the Congress members, in turn, launched a verbal attack against the BJP members.
The Speaker had to adjourn the House twice before adjourning it for the day as the protesting members refused to withdraw the dharna.
Speaking to the media later, Mr. Shettar reiterated the party’s demand for a CBI probe into the issue.
