A debate on the law and order situation in the State saw heated words being exchanged for nearly three hours between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
The BJP questioned the propriety of the government in sponsoring the Tipu Jayanti programme and on the communal violence in Madikeri.
Within minutes of commencement of the debate, the House plunged into pandemonium forcing Deputy Speaker Shivashankar Reddy, who was in the chair, to adjourn abruptly for lunch.
The mayhem resumed when the House reassembled. While the Congress members strongly defended the official celebrations of Tipu Jayanti, the BJP questioned the motive behind such a decision and described it as an effort to divide people. The lone JD(S) member, Zameer Ahmed, who was present in the House during the debate, supported the government.
Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar questioned the logic behind observing Tipu Jayanti during Deepavali from November 10 to 12, claiming that Tipu Sultan was born on November 20. The BJP members described Tipu Sultan as a “controversial personality” and wondered why Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had suddenly decided to sponsor his birthday celebrations. The Congress members took exception to this and recalled his contribution for the development of the State. While the Congress accused the BJP of distorting history, the latter maintained that the Congress had opted for sponsoring this programme with an eye on votes.
Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa repeatedly pulled up both the party members over their behaviour and also asked them to be responsible while airing their views in the House. Former Speaker and Congress member K.R. Ramesh Kumar made a fervent appeal to the members to uphold the secular spirit of the Constitution.
Taking exception to the members indulging in war of words over the Tipu issue, JD(S) member Kona Reddy even staged a dharna in the well of the House, demanding that the discussion on Kalasa-Banduri Nala project be taken up instead.
