Gowda demands BJP ministers' removal from Assembly

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today demanded the disqualification of Assembly membership of the three Karnataka ministers, who were caught viewing porn clippings during proceedings in the House.

"Resignation is not the punishment, the three former ministers - Laxman Savadi, C C Patil and Krishna Palemar - should be removed from their assembly membership," he told reporters here.

There are several incidents wherein the Speaker has handed out severe punishments by disqualifying members from the legislative membership, Gowda said.

"I remember one such incident wherein the Lok Sabha Speaker had dismissed a Parliamentarian for accepting bribe in cash," he said, adding, "even the state Speaker can take a cue out of it."

Gowda said in his 60 years of political career, such an "indecent incident" did not happen either in the state Assembly or in Parliament.

About former Karnataka Advocate General's claims that he resigned as AG after government pressured him to quit as Special Public Prosecutor in the wealth case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Gowda said, "I do not want to react to it ... It is better you pose this question to the government."

He also said the party was anticipating polls anytime as there were "fissures within the ruling BJP" and were preparing for the eventuality.

The JDS has chalked out a statewide tour in three phases which would focus on strengthening the party at the grassroots, Gowda said.