Former Minister and BJP MLC A.H. Vishwanath on Saturday criticised the Congress for holding up the Legislature session over Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj K.S. Eshwarappa’s remarks.
Contending that there was no clarity on the reported statement by Mr. Eshwarappa on hoisting of the saffron flag on Red Fort, Mr. Vishwanath said the Congress party should move ahead after seeking an apology from the Minister instead of stalling the proceedings of the Legislature.
Though Mr. Eshwarappa’s statement had been before the electronic media, Mr. Vishwanath said the people of the State including many people’s representatives did not know the context or the actual statement made by the Minister. However, he said it was wrong on the part of Mr. Eshwarappa if he had made such a statement as alleged by the Congress.
But, Mr. Vishwanath contended that Mr. Eshwarappa’s remarks did not warrant such a protest by the Congress and criticised former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah for his conduct in the Assembly over the issue. The dharna by the Congress was coming in the way of the Legislature discussing critical issues concerning the public, he lamented.
He urged Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to immediately convene a meeting of leaders of both the Houses of the State Legislature along with the presiding officers and find a solution to the impasse. He linked the present stand-off in the Legislature to the upcoming elections to the State Assembly.
Earlier, Mr. Vishwanath inaugurated a drinking water plant at the NTMS school, which was recently relocated.
Meanwhile, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) held a silent demonstration in front of the Congress office near Railway station in Mysuru on Saturday demanding the dismissal of Mr. Eshwarappa from the Cabinet.
