Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)
Belagavi, Dec 13: The issue of Bantwal MLA, Rajesh Naik Ulipady Guthu, facing humiliation during the inaugural function of Indira Canteen at B C Road was raised in the state assembly on Wednesday December 12. This matter gave rise to verbal friction between the assembly speaker and BJP legislators.
Rajesh Naik, who raised the topic during the zero hour, said that he had gone to the inaugural of Indira Canteen at B C Road on Sunday last to preside over it as he happens to be the local MLA. He complained that some miscreants had threatened him against taking part in the programme. He claimed that in spite of complaining to the police about this incident, no first information report (FIR) was registered by them.
In his response, Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, U T Khader, expressed regret at the fact that the legislator had to face inconvenience at the programme. He said that it would be ensured that such things do not recur. At the same time, he requested the MLA not to blow such a small incident out of proportion.
The assembly speaker, who objected to the response given by the minister, asked the home minister to check whether any breach has taken place in this incident. BJP MLA, Sunil Kumar, speaking on the subject, questioned the propriety of the government in terming an insult to the legislator as a minor thing. He urged for registration of FIR.
As the BJP legislators began to speak together, a pandemonium-like situation prevailed. Angered at this, the speaker asked the BJP legislators to confine their show of strength outside the house and allow the home minister to speak. BJP MLAs opposed the speaker on this matter.
Deputy chief minister, Dr G Parameshwar, promised to get video footage of the incident and take suitable steps in the matter.
The speaker, Ramesh Kumar, said that it is the duty of the police to extend protection to all legislators, irrespective of which party they belong to. He said that the primary duty of police personnel should be to protect the current people's representative and not the person who helped them to get a posting at that place. He asked the government to give this clear message to all the officials of the police department.