Bangalore, July 12 (IANS) The alleged threat by legislators supporting mining barons the Reddy brothers to beat up Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JS-S) legislators for repeatedly raising the illegal mining issue in the house led to an uproar in the Karnataka assembly Monday.
The JD-S legislators trooped into the house wearing miners’ helmets and sought bullet-proof jackets from the speaker claiming their life was in danger even in the house in view of the Friday’s threat by legislators from iron-ore rich Bellary district, the political base of Reddy brothers.
JD-S members refused to take off the helmets inspire of repeated warning from Speaker K. G. Bopaiah while Congress legislators staged a sit-in in the well of the house demanding action against ruling Bharatiya Janata Party legislators for their Friday’s utterances.
After the house was adjourned mid-way amid ruckus over attempt by mining baron and Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy to have his say over illegal mining issue, BJP and Congress and JD-S members virtually came to blows.
During the melee, two BJP legislators from Bellary T.H. Suresh Babu and B. Nagendra reportedly told the Congress and JD-S members that they would be thrashed if they visit Bellary.
Congress and JD-S legislators did not allow Monday’s proceedings to start demanding immediate suspension of Reddy, his elder brother and Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy, younger brother G. Somashekara Reddy, Suresh Babu and Nagendra.
While Janardhana Reddy is member of the legislative council, the other four are assembly members.
Bopaiah adjourned the house twice and tried in vain to find a way out of the impasse by talking to leaders of the three parties.
The Congress members continued the sit-in in the house even after the speaker adjourned the house for the day.
