When ‘Jai Shree Ram’ echoed in Karnataka Assembly

The Legislative Assembly on Tuesday heard chants of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ during a discussion on the fuel price rise, which riled Leader of the Opposition, Siddaramaiah.

The impromptu sloganeering happened when Siddaramaiah was quoting a recent tweet by Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy on the prices of fuel.

“Subramanian Swamy, in a tweet, said that the price (of petrol) in Ram’s India was Rs 93 whereas it was Rs 51 in Sita’s Nepal and Rs 53 in Ravana’s Lanka. These aren’t my words. They’re the words of Swamy, who is a BJP leader and a Rajya Sabha member,” Siddaramaiah said while speaking on an adjournment motion he moved on rising fuel prices.

Read | Sadananda Gowda flays Siddaramaiah for disrupting Assembly session

To this, Siddaramaiah was greeted with the 'Jai Shree Ram' chant.

“For what joy are you chanting this? Is it because a litre of petrol has touched Rs 100?” the Congress leader asked. “I am also a devotee of Lord Rama. I have Rama in my name. I am Sidda-Rama-iah,” he said.

Law Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he was happy that Siddaramaiah had finally acknowledged Lord Rama. Unamused, Siddaramaiah said: “(BJP) cannot claim sole ownership over Rama. Sri Ram doesn’t belong to just you. Sri Ram is as much a god to us as he is to you.”

Before this, Siddaramaiah attacked the Modi administration over fuel prices. “When crude oil cost $125 per barrel in the international market, fuel prices were not as high as they are now. Today, the price of crude oil is down to $64 and still the government is increasing taxes,” he said, daring the BJP members to "ask yourselves if you are happy with the price rise."

Pointing out that fuel prices in Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka were lower, Siddaramaiah said: “PM Modi said previous governments did little to reduce our dependence on importing crude oil. But what has he done? India’s import of crude oil went up by 43 million tonnes since he came to power.”

Also Read | CM Mamata refuses to speak after 'Jai Shree Ram' chants at Netaji event; says 'don't insult after calling me here'

Bommai said the state government will reply to Siddaramaiah’s queries, not before trying to block his motion. “The Congress has MPs in the Parliament. Let them raise it there.”

Yatnal's poke

BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who is said to be disgruntled, asked Siddaramaiah why he was attacking only the Centre. "Why aren't you saying anything against the state government," he asked. To this, Congress MLAs said that was Yatnal's job.