JOIN USEntry restricted to Vidhana Soudha
Legislative Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah on Wednesday ordered marshals not to allow non-members including disqualified MLAs in the precincts of the House.
Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Bopaiah said adequate precautionary measures have been taken to ensure that ugly incidents that occurred during the trust vote on October 11 are not repeated on Thursday.
An unprecedented 149 marshals will be deputed in the Assembly precincts on Thursday.
City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said no vehicles barring that of the Chief Minister, floor leaders Siddaramaiah and H D Revanna and Speaker Bopaiah, will be allowed inside Vidhana Soudha. All MLAs including ministers and MLCs who are ministers are not allowed to enter Vidhana Soudha by their vehicles. They must get into the vehicles provided by the government at Legislators’ Home, which is just yards away from the West Gate of Vidhana Soudha.
For media too, severe restrictions have been imposed. Only two journalists and one photographer are allowed to cover by one news organisation, to attend the legislature session. However, unlike on October 11, on Thursday television channels are permitted live telecast of the proceedings.
Wrath of Opposition
On Monday, the presence of civil police attracted the wrath of the Opposition. With the permission of the Speaker, the uniform wearing police had entered the Assembly hall. Bidari was asked to remove the disqualified five MLAs from the hall.
But, the police did not physically check out any of the agitating members. On Thursday, Bidari will be in the Assembly premises. But he will not be wearing the uniform. “Bangalore city is my baby. I will be in Vidhana Soudha”, he said.
Asked whether men in khaki will be also be present, he said marshals (police in white uniform) will be on duty in side the Assembly premises. But outside the hall, civil police will be on duty.
Bringing order in the House
The Legislature Secretariat staff on Wednesday, were busy bringing order in the Assembly Hall. The opposition party MLAs had damaged sound system, broken the glass panes and through all detachable things.
The staff had to rush to restoration work as the House is scheduled to be reconvened for the second floor test within four days. In the wake of ruckus created on Monday, the marshal staff conducted a rehearsal in presence of senior police officers including City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari.
The marshal staff, who had suffered injuries, had come back for the rehearsal after a day’s rest. Lingaiah, who had fainted in the melee, said he had recovered from the shock.
The Home Department had instructed the Legislature Secretariat to minimise the presence of non-members in the Assembly hall premises.