'Speaker hatched conspiracy with Chief Minister'

The party alleged that the Chief Minister and senior officers were well-aware of the disqualification of the MLAs even a day before the Speaker issued the order.

Congress leader V S Ugrappa, in a press meet on Friday, released copies of City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari’s report filed to the DG&IGP on the ruckus at Assembly Hall on October 11. The report also has the proceedings of the meeting held on October 10  at 10 am on the security measures in and around Vidhana Soudha.

Bidari, in his seven-page report, refers to the issue of disqualification in two different ways. On page 2 of the report, he writes “....the manner in which “the MLAs, if any disqualified”, should be prevented from entering the Vidhana Soudha was discussed”. But on page 6 he says “...the disqualified MLAs should be allowed up to the outer gate of the Assembly premises...” Those attended the meeting decided that ‘disqualified members’ be allowed till the main gate of the Assembly Hall.

Referring to mention of ‘disqualified members’, Ugrappa said the Speaker conducted hearing on disqualification at 3.30 pm on October 10 and orders of disqualification were issued only at wee hours of the next day (Oct 11).

“The very fact that the government discussed entry of disqualified members into the House establishes that the Chief Minister and the officers were aware of the disqualification of the members even before the hearing by the Speaker, he alleged. He said the the Speaker has lost moral right to continue in the post and should resign immediately.

No chance, says Bopaiah
Speaker K G Bopaiah said he was not party to the officers’ meeting held at ‘Krishna’, where the officers took a decision to stop entry of ‘disqualified MLAs’ at the outer gate of the Assembly House.

“There was no chance me conveying my decision to the government even before conducting a hearing on the matter”, he said. Reacting to Congress’ demand for his resignation, Bopaiah said he was responsible only for the proceedings of meeting at his chamber.