Karnataka Legislative Council adjourned thrice over allegations of insult to Governor Gehlot, leading to uproar

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Karnataka Legislative Council witnessed repeated disruptions on Friday, resulting in three adjournments over allegations of insult to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot by Congress MLC BK Hariprasad.

After two adjournments, Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti ordered Hariprasad's conduct to be referred to the Ethics Committee after an MLC from the opposition BJP lodged a complaint.

Horatti rejected Hariprasad's demand to discuss the allegation of disrespect to the national anthem by the Governor as he had walked out of the House without waiting for the anthem to be played.

Hariprasad tried to stop Gehlot on Thursday when other Congress members attempted to "gherao" him soon after his address, which he concluded by reading just two lines, to the joint session of the Karnataka Legislature. As soon as the session began on Friday, BJP MLCs demanded the Governor to dismiss Hariprasad from the House for "insolence".

They demanded that the Governor be insulted. Hariprasad be suspended. Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti tried to calm the agitated MLCs and reprimanded some of them.

Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said Hariprasad's conduct was unacceptable and rejected the Congress' claim that the governor disrespected the national anthem, saying the anthem was never played as Gehlot was leaving.

Hariprasad said the governor should have waited until the national anthem was played, but he left, which was an insult to the anthem. Horatti made two more attempts to resume business, and both times he was forced to adjourn the House.

Allegations of Rs 2,500 crore excise scam

Alleging a ₹2,500 crore scam in the Karnataka Excise Department, the opposition BJP on Friday demanded the resignation of state Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur in the Assembly. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka claimed that bribes collected through liquor licensing were being diverted to poll-bound states like Assam and Kerala for election expenses.

He alleged that liquor licenses were being sold in "auctions," violating prescribed norms. The issue became controversial in the House when Speaker UT Khader asked Congress MLA AS Ponnanna to move a motion of thanks to the Governor's address.

Ashok objected, demanding that his allegations of an excise scam be discussed first. The Speaker said the notice could not be taken up under an adjournment motion and could be discussed later under another rule.

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