By IANS,
Bangalore: Karnataka’s opposition Congress party Tuesday condemned the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for passing the state’s budget for fiscal 2011-12 and transacting business without debate in the house.
“The BJP government had no moral right to hold the budget session after the Supreme Court recently passed strictures against the state legislative assembly Speaker (K.G. Bopaiah) and Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa in the disqualification case of 16 lawmakers. The budget estimates have been passed without discussions,” Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
Since the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) boycotted the 10-day session, convened specially to pass the budget for this fiscal, the assembly was adjourned Tuesday indefinitely, six days ahead of its last date (June 15) after transacting business without the participation of the opposition members.
The chief minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, had presented the budget proposals for this fiscal Feb 22, seeking the house permission for vote-on-account till June 30.
Justifying the party’s decision to stay away from the session, Siddaramaiah said the chief minister and the speaker should have resigned soon after the apex court restored May 13 the membership of the 16 lawmakers, including 11 of the ruling party and observed that their disqualification was against natural justice and fair play.
The remaining five legislators were Independents.
“The BJP government has scant respect for the opposition parties as it ignored even our demand for a discussion on the apex court’s judgment and the adverse remarks made against the chief minister and the speaker,” Siddaramaiah said.
Asserting that the Congress would continue its agitation till the chief minister and speaker resigned, the opposition leader also criticised the ruling party for passing a resolution in the assembly and the council over the police crackdown on yoga guru Ramdev and his supporters June 5 at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi.
“As Ramdev launched the fast with the support of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Visha Hindu Parishad (VHP) and made political speeches on the occasion, the (UPA) government had taken the action against him to maintain peace and prevent any untoward incident. What was the need for the state government to pass such a resolution?” asked Siddaramaiah.