BJP mounts pressure seeking George's scalp

Opposition BJP went ahead with its plan to corner the ruling Congress by demanding the resignation of Bengaluru City Development Minister K J George, resulting in pandemonium in Legislative Council on the opening day of the winter session on Monday.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa sought to move an adjournment motion on the issue. The principal Opposition party has been demanding George's ouster in connection with the death of police officer M K Ganapathy. The CBI has registered an FIR against George recently.

The motion met with stiff resistance from the Congress, which put up a united defence for George.

Legislative Council chairman DH Shankaramurthy allowed Eshwarappa to make preliminary submission in this regard. Even as Eshwarappa was recounting Ganapathy's death and the subsequent CID probe in which George was given a clean chit, Health and Family Welfare Minister K R Ramesh Kumar took objection and accused Eshwarappa of deviating from the issue.

Congress members, including S R Patil and V S Ugrappa, opposed the motion, with the latter even getting into a verbal duel with Shankaramurthy.

"I resigned voluntarily when a magistrate court ordered registering an FIR against me," George, who was in the Council, said. Eshwarappa retorted by asking him why he had not resigned now that CBI has registered the FIR.

Finally, the BJP leaders, led by Eshwarappa, jumped to the well of the House in protest. Following which, the Council was adjourned till 3 pm.