Govinda, Govinda... conch, cymbal resonate in House

Blowing a conch and beating a bronze cymbal, the JD(S) members led by their leaders H D Revanna and M C Nanaiah went in a procession in both Assembly and Council lounges of Vidhan Soudha as a mark of protest against the alleged corrupt activities of the BJP government.

The protesters also lugged along a huge grey-coloured suitcase with documents which, they claimed, pertains to scandals of the Yeddyurappa government.

They chanted “Govinda Govinda...” perhaps to drive home a point that people have no hopes left from this government.

Later, high drama was witnessed in the Assembly when the protesters entered the House. Initially, the watch and ward staff refused to allow the JD(S) members to carry the suitcase inside the House.

But Speaker K G Bopaiah, who was unaware of the JD(S) protest, ordered the watch and ward staff to allow the MLAs to come in after Congress leader Siddaramaiah complained that the members were denied entry into the House.

The members then made a grand entry into the House with two legislators Sunil Hegde and Venkatarao Nadagouda carrying the suitcase. The conch shell and bronze cymbal were left behind. They took out the documents and placards with slogans against the government from the suitcase. They were passed on to JD(S) legislators in the House.
Shocked, Bopaiah ordered the marshals to remove the materials from the House.

An upset Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa pulled out documents from his briefcase stating that he had evidence of corruption against JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and his sons.

Even the Congress members were unaware of the tactics adopted by the JD (S) members to stage “a unique” protest. As the ruling party members raised a hue and cry over JD(S)’ action, the House plunged into pandemonium. Law Minister S Suresh Kumar wanted the JD (S) members to be suspended as they were violating the House rules. Bopaiah warned the JD(S) members that he would name them. The marshals took away the suitcase and placards.

In the Council, the watch and ward staff did not allow JD(S) members to carry the suitcase inside the House. The suitcase was placed at the entrance of the House.