From Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 14: The budget session of Karnataka legislature was adjourned sine die on Thursday without any discussion on the budget and the motion of thanks to governor Vajubhai Vala' for his address to the legislature.

The short legislature session, which dominated the audio tape issue involving opposition BJP’s attempt to pull down the H D Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-Congress coalition government ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, also did not discuss the problems of the people, especially farmers’ distress and the prevailing drought situation in several parts of the state.

The entire session washed out owing to opposition BJP protests against the government’s decision to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged the audio clips in which the BJP legislator said the Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar was booked for Rs 50 crore.

Attack on the BJP MLA Preetham Gowda's house in Hassan by JD(S) workers also echoed in the Legislature leading to BJP's protest on the last day of the session on Thursday.

Amidst protest by the opposition BJP on Thursday, the Legislative Assembly passed the financial Bill 2019-20, vote on account for expenditure amounting to Rs 80,168 crore.

Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who also holds the finance portfolio, moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote amidst protest by the Opposition BJP against attack on their Hassan City MLA Preetam Gowda on Wednesday.

The chief minister presented the State budget with a size of Rs 2.34 lakh crore on February 8. However, the Financial Bill was passed without any discussion following stalemate in the House over a few issues.

As soon as the House commenced proceedings, Leader of the Opposition B S Yeddyurappa demanded the Speaker to provide security to the MLA and his family members in Hassan.

He said that nearly 300-400 “goondas” attacked the house of Preetam Gowda and one person was injured in the melee in protest against the BJP MLA’s comment that JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda’s days were numbered and the Chief Minister’s health was not good, and therefore, JD(S) will not survive as a party.

Terming the state government as “goonda raj”, the BJP leader said JD(S) leaders were able to digest someone coming up in politics against them.

“We strongly condemn the incident and the attacks on his house," he said.

The BJP members shouted slogans against Kumaraswamy and alleged that the MLA had been denied police protection.

Meanwhile, Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar directed the government to ensure safety of the member of the House.