From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 23: With the opposition Congress party members deciding to continue their dharna in the state Legislative Assembly from Monday on Tuesday also demanding a Karnataka high court Chief Justice monitored probe into the sex CD scandal in which former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi was accused of sexually exploiting a woman by promising a government job, the session is likely to fizzle out in chaos.
As per the current schedule, the Assembly session was planned to end on March 26 soon after chief minister B S Yediyurappa’s reply to the debate on the budget.
Representational image
However, the Congress senior leaders have already spoken on the budget and there was no point in listening to the chief minister’s reply on the budget and instead the party wants to embarrass the BJP government over the sex CD issue.
Congress is likely to continue its protest on Wednesday too. But the ruling BJP is likely to table all bills related to the budget amidst protest and seek the approval of the House.
On Tuesday, the Opposition Congress members continued their dharna in the Legislative Assembly and the leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said the government was not listening to our demands. We will not cooperate with the state government.
Law and parliamentary affairs and home minister Basavaraj Bommai said the Congress has been wasting the time of the House. The government has ordered the probe into the CD scandal and there was no going back on the issue, he said.
When Congress staged protests, JD(S) members sought a discussion on drinking water and electricity issues faced by the people.
The KPCC has submitted a complaint to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) demanding a probe into alleged money laundering involved in the alleged sex scandal.
KPCC publicity committee Bengaluru general secretary, Y Puttaraju and others said Ramesh Jarkiholi held a press conference on March 9, 2021, and claimed that money ranging from Rs 5 crore to Rs 20 crore was spent and two flats were given to girls in making the CD and fix him the scandal.
Jarkiholi, who had resigned before the commencement of the assembly session, had termed the CD as 'fake'.
The Congress party has urged the ED to register a case and conduct the probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002.
It remains to be seen if the Congress party sticks to its plans to continue the dharna over the sex CD issue on Wednesday and until the end of the session. If the opposition members refused to relent, the ruling party might get the budget and finance bills passed by voice vote based on its majority.