Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday agreed to a suggestion by Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the controversial audio clip purportedly of a BJP leader saying that the Speaker had been “booked” for ₹50 crore for accepting the resignations of dissident legislators. This came amidst the demand by the BJP for a judicial inquiry or a House panel probe.
While all members of the Assembly demanded a probe, the suggestion by the Speaker for a SIT probe did not go down well with the BJP, which expressed apprehension over an impartial probe by the SIT since Mr. Kumaraswamy was also a party in the issue.
Meanwhile, the functioning of the House was affected as the day was marked by exchange of words between the ruling and Opposition benches.
On Friday last, Mr. Kumaraswamy released the audio recording purportedly showing Leader of the Opposition B.S. Yeddyurappa’s attempt to woo the son of a JD(S) MLA promising him money and Ministry for allegedly toppling the government.
An emotional Speaker
“This is not a direction. I am suggesting the Chief Minister to form an SIT and ascertain the truth in the content of the tape. The truth would give me relief,” an emotional Speaker said in the House. “I have spent the last two nights in distress and I am in pain... My apprehension is that someone who is a member of this House is in the audio clip casting aspersions on me.”
Breach of privilege
While the Chief Minister agreed to the suggestion made by the Speaker, BJP members continued to oppose it, saying they were not confident that the SIT probe would be impartial. At the end of the day, when the BJP members did not relent, he said: “I cannot reverse or modify the decision.”
Minister Krishna Byre Gowda initiated the debate. He said the statement on bribing the Speaker amounted to breach of privilege of all members of the House and it was contempt of the House.
“We have elected you unanimously. We are pained by the comments made against you [Speaker].... Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion,” Mr. Byre Gowda told the Speaker.
Appealing to the Speaker not to take the matter seriously, J.C. Madhuswamy (BJP) said since the allegations were made against him outside the House it would not amount to breach of privilege of members or contempt of the House. Intervening in the debate, the Speaker said: “You are defending a weak case.”
S. Suresh Kumar, Jagadish Shettar, K.G. Bopaiah, K.S. Eshwarappa, (all BJP) wanted the Speaker to conduct the probe to end “loose talk.”
