Congress to boycott replies by 'immoral' ministers

The Opposition Congress is said to have decided to label six ministers as “immoral,” by boycotting or rejecting their replies during Question Hour in the ongoing Budget session of the legislature.

The six ministers recently approached a city court seeking an injunction against publishing or broadcasting anything defamatory against them.

They are Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar, Agriculture Minister B C Patil, Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar, Cooperation Minister S T Somashekar, Urban Development Minister Byrati Basavaraj and Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister K C Narayan Gowda.

They had approached the court soon after a sex scandal broke out, allegedly involving a BJP leader who was forced to resign as water resources minister.

On Tuesday, the move to boycott or reject answers from the six ministers resulted in a heated exchange between legislators.

During Question Hour, Chamarajanagar Congress MLA C Puttarangashetty was called on by Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri to ask his question to Gowda.

“The minister has lost the morality to answer my question,” Puttarangashetty said and sat down, provoking an angry outburst from the treasury benches.

Both Speaker Kageri and Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol took offence at the remarks, noting that it was improper to raise a question and then, reject the answer, during Question Hour.

Meanwhile, Gowda took offence at Puttarangashetty’s remarks and demanded that it be removed from the records, which the Speaker said he would examine.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Legislative Council, where Congress members boycotted the replies by Basavaraj and Somashekar.

According to sources, the Congress will continue to “embarrass” the ministers by boycotting or rejecting their replies.

“The boycott will be clear when three of the six ministers give their replies during Question Hour on Wednesday,” sources said.