The three Karnataka ministers who quit over the porn scandal were barred by the Speaker from attending the Assembly till a House inquiry committee submits its report.
The three Karnataka ministers who on Wednesday quit over the porn scandal were barred by Speaker K G Bopaiah from attending proceedings of the Assembly till a House inquiry committee submits its report on March 12.
In his ruling, Bopaiah asked the three to give an explanation by February 13 and their reply would be placed before the proposed six-member inquiry committee, comprising two members each from BJP, Congress and JDS. Till then, the three are barred from attending the Assembly, Bopaiah said in his order as the unsavoury episode rocked the House and evoked an outrage across the state.
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Not satisfied with the Speaker's decision, Leader of Congress Opposition Siddaramaiah said his party would boycott the committee, as the party pushed for the disqualification of the disgraced former ministers.
"Why should there be a committee. They (the three) have admitted (to watching the clips). Please disqualify them", Siddaramaiah said earlier after Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda proposed to the Speaker to form a House committee.
Amid a surcharged atmosphere, Congress and JDS members staged a dharna in the well of the House making a vociferous demand for the immediate suspension and disqualification of the three.
After giving his ruling, the Speaker adjourned the House sine die, cutting short the session by two days as it's originally scheduled to go on till February 10.
Earlier as the House assembled on Wednesday, a combative opposition sought to put the Government on the mat with the Congress making a vain bid to move a resolution seeking their disqualification and the JDS an adjournment motion with similar demand and filing of criminal case against them.
The Chief Minister and Law and Parliamentary Affairs S Suresh Kumar argued that resolution could not be moved under a rule specified by Siddaramaiah, as it required seven days notice.
Sadananda Gowda also charged the opposition with trying to convert it into a "prestige and political issue" and, citing a precedent in Lok Sabha, said no discussion be allowed on the subject as he mooted constitution of a House committee.
The House was adjourned twice as it witnessed noisy scenes with the opposition making a determined bid to push its case while BJP members sought to blunt it, telling the Speaker that proceedings should be held only under rules.
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