No end to House tussle, demand for George's ouster grows

The standoff between the government and the Opposition continued on Thursday over the police officer Ganapathi suicide case. As none of their demands were accepted by the government, the Opposition continued its day-and-night dharna in the legislature.

At a meeting of the floor leaders convened by Speaker K B Koliwad to end the stalemate in the Assembly, the principal opposition party, the BJP offered to accept the judicial probe announced by the government, provided it allows Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court to select the head of the judicial commission. The BJP was ready to give up its demand for a CBI probe.

The BJP was, however, firm on its stand that Bengaluru Development Minister K J George should be removed from the Cabinet. But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah rejected the demand. “We told the Chief Minister that he can always induct him (George) once the investigation is over, but until the probe is on, he should not be a minister. This was not acceptable to the chief minister. Hence, we have decided to continue the dharna,” BJP’s deputy leader in the Assembly R Ashoka told reporters after the meeting.

The government can appoint any retired judge of the Karnataka High Court as the head of the judicial commission. The BJP and the JD(S) have already rejected the government’s decision to hold a judicial probe.

They see no merit in conducting a judicial probe on the grounds that the government would appoint a retired judge of its choice and get a tailor-made report.

Earlier, as soon as the proceedings of the House began, the BJP and JD(S) members resumed their overnight dharna by raising slogans against George. They demanded that he should be sacked from the Cabinet; a FIR registered on the basis of the complaint given by Ganapathi’s son and handover the case to the CBI.

When the protest began, the treasury benches were almost empty. Siddaramaiah and George were also absent. When Law Minister T B Jayachandra stood up to say something, Ashoka snubbed him saying: “There is no law and order in the state. We do not want the law minister’s reply.”

The BJP members were heard raising slogans such as: “Go back, go back, Geroge”, “Beke beku, rajiname beku”, “Bhanda sarkarakke dhikkara, dhikkara”, “Govinda, Govinda”, “We want justice”, “Ayyo, ayyo anyaya,” “Kolegaduka sarkarakke, dhikkara”, “Vajamaadi, vajamaadi, George na vajaamaadi.”

Sensing the mood of the Opposition, the Speaker adjourned the House for a short duration. Finally, the House was adjourned for Friday.