Will take extreme step if MLAs continue to create ruckus: Karnataka Assembly Speaker U T Khader

'It was my decision to suspend the MLAs. Chief Minister did not interfere in it,' Khader clarified to mediapersons on Monday.

Mangaluru: Karnataka Assembly Speaker U T Khader has said that if MLAs continue to create ruckus on the floor of the House, he would not hesitate to take “extreme steps".

“Suspension of MLAs should not be treated as punishment. They should reform themselves and become model representatives in their conduct in the future. If they continue to create ruckus and insult the ‘chair’, I will take extreme steps against them including suspension for one year,” he told mediapesons in Mangaluru.

“Had the Speaker or Council Chairman taken strict action in the past for similar ruckus on the floors of the Assembly, the incident would not have recurred. Those who created ruckus by not allowing the passing of the finance bill would have thought that they would be suspended for a day as it is the last day of the budget session. I have made the decision as per the Constitution,” he said.

"There was a need to send a message to check such tendencies. We need to convey to the people why we should respect constitutional posts. That’s why the decision was taken. It is impossible to tolerate the insult to the 'chair', which is the symbol of parliamentary democracy. The entire incident is a black mark on the state,” he said.

“The MLAs came up to the podium and tried to stop the passing of the Finance Bill. People should know that no one is above the Assembly in the state and it is the duty of everyone to respect it. The Speaker is the head of the House and he holds the constitutional post,” he explained.

Further, he said, “It was my decision to suspend the MLAs. Chief Minister did not interfere in it,” he said to query.

Stating that the anti-defection law is strong, Khader said “If I was the Speaker, I would not have hesitated to dismiss the MLAs engaged in shifting of parties which led to the collapse of the government in the past.”

To a query on the honeytrap case raised by the ministers, the Speaker said the issue was discussed in the assembly and the CM had promised a demand calling for a high-level probe would be submitted by the ministers.

It is a serious issue, which needs a high-level probe. However, trying to disrupt the proceedings and prevent the passing of the finance bill by the BJP MLAs was wrong. If the finance bill was not passed, government employees would not get salaries and no development works could be taken up,” he said.