Amid a commotion and dharna by BJP members in the well of the House seeking the resignation of Ministers K.J. George and Vinay Kulkarni, the Legislative Council on Friday approved two Bills and referred one to the Select Committee.
Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa tabled The Karnataka Land Revenue (Third Amendment) Bill, 2017, and The Karnataka Land Revenue (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2017, amid protests.
On the other hand, Karnataka State Universities Bill, 2017, was referred to the Joint Select Committee after Chairman of the Legislative Council D.H. Shankaramurthy suggested it following request by members. Although Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi offered to hold a meeting of all the Council members to discuss the issue.
Private members’ Bill
The Council also witnessed dharna by the ruling party member over the issue of the House not taking up a private Bill moved by him. Congress member Raghu Achar, who had sought to move a private members’ Bill on making it mandatory for children of public servants and elected representatives to study in government schools.
Mr. Achar raised the issue and rushed to the well of the House and began a dharna protesting against not being allowed to table the Bill. Mr. Shankaramurthy clarifiedthat the Bill could not be listed because of technical reasons. Meanwhile, BJP members stood up in support of Mr. Raghu Achar.
the embarrassment of the Congress, he continued his dharna even as senior Congress members V.S. Ugrappa and House leader M.R. Seetharam requested him to withdraw his protest. He withdrew his dharna after Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait said the department was considering the proposal.
