The Legislative Assembly on Friday plunged into pandemonium, as a heated exchange of words took place between the ruling Congress and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party members, following allegations of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the increase in allocation to the State by the 14th Finance Commission had been “completely negated” by the decrease in the Centre’s share of funds for various projects.
In fact, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had to abruptly end his reply to the legislature debate on demand for grants to various departments within minutes of beginning as the BJP members staged a dharna and indulged in slogan-shouting while accusing him of misguiding the House on the Central funds. The episode witnessed unruly scenes too as the angry Chief Minister threw the State budget book on the floor.
While the Chief Minister led the attack by the ruling party, leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar led the BJP’s attack.
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The incident happened when Mr. Siddaramaiah, who was replying to the debate, blamed the shortfall in central allocation for the State not adhering to its full plan size for 2014-15. Despite the increase in allocation made under the 14th finance commission, the State was facing a deficit of Rs. 1,987 crore from the Central allocation due to reduction in central share to various projects by Rs. 4,690 crore, he alleged.
This angered the BJP members who disputed the claims of the Chief Minister. While Mr. C. T. Ravi demanded that he should be given opportunity to clarify on the Central allocation, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa said he would allow him to make his point after the completion of Mr. Siddaramaih’s reply. Initially, Mr. Ravi agreed for this. However, when the Chief Minister again referred to the decrease in central allocation, he started making his point despite objection by the speaker.
The Chief Minister took exception to this, and accused the BJP of being concerned more about the party than the State. Enraged, Mr. Shettar wondered why the Chief Minister skipped the meeting on Neeti Ayog if he was really concerned about the State?
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As tempers rose, Mr. Siddaramaiah challenged the BJP to move a privilege motion against him if they thought that he was giving false information. The BJP countered this by urging him to bring out a White Paper on the status of central taxes.
The Chief Minister also accused the BJP of being anti-farmer and anti-poor. Amidst this, the BJP members trouped into the well of the House and started staging a dharna. Amidst protest and noisy scenes, Mr. Siddaramaiah wound up his reply. The House also adopted the Appropriation Bill, cleared the supplementary estimates and also allowed tabling of the Lokayukta (Amendment Bill) amidst protest before getting adjourned for the lunch.
Meanwhile, Mr. Shettar told reporters that the party would move a breach of privilege motion against the Chief Minister in the next session. He maintained that despite reduction of allocation in several projects, the State had still get an additional funds of Rs. 5,446 crore and accused Mr. Siddaramaiah of misleading the House.