Bangalore: In a huge embarrassment to the BJP government in Karnataka, two ministers were allegedly caught
on TV camera watching porn on mobile phone during Assembly
proceedings in the first such ugly incident in the state's
legislative history.
A regional TV channel aired the footage of Minister for
Cooperation Laxman Savadi and Minister for Women and Child
Development CC Patil allegedly watching the clippings, when
the House debated the issue of hoisting of Pakistan national
flag in a town in Bijapur district on new year's day.
The footage telecast also by some regional channels after
the Assembly adjourned for the day, showed Savadi watching the
video and later joined by Patil for a brief while.
In a bizarre defence, Savadi on Tuesday night admitted to watching
the porno footage but ruled out resigning from the ministry.
"Yes it is like a blue film. It was on Minister for Ports
Krishna Palemar's mobile. The video clippings had women
dancing and they were raped by four men. Palemar told me such
things happen abroad in rave parties. Since the House was
discussing the Malpe rave party, I watched it," he said.
Today's incident comes even as the government is battling
the Opposition attack over the recent party held by foreigners
in Malpe beach in Udupi district during a government sponsored
tourism festival.
Savadi went on saying, "Yes I watched it (clipping). But
I have not committed any crime. It is not on my mobile. Just
watching it is not a crime," Savadi said.
"No question of resigning. Such thought is not on my
mind," Savadi said as the episode sparked an outrage with the
opposition demanding their resignation and disqualification
from Assembly membership.
Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda, on a tour of Chikmagalur
district, said, "It is for the Speaker to take action against
the ministers if they are found guilty of watching porno
clippings in the Assembly." He said he has not watched the TV
footage.
Speaker KG Bopaiah said, "I will look into it. Law will
take its own course."
Opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah said both the
ministers should quit forthwith or they should be dismissed.
Former chief minister and JD-S leader HD Kumaraswamy said
Sadananda Gowda should drop them and the ministers should be
disqualified from Assembly membership.
Meanwhile, protests erupted in some parts of the state
demanding resignation of ministers Savadi and Patil for
allegedly watching the clippings in the Assembly.
Protesters in hundreds took to the streets raising
slogans "Down Down BJP government" in Shimoga, Mysore, Raichur
and Belgaum among other places, reports said.
Legislative Council Chairman DH Shankaramurthy said "it is
disgraceful. This should not have happened."
The incident could not have come at a worse time for BJP
rocked by infighting amid hectic lobbying by BS Yeddyurappa
to regain the chief minister's post or at least become the
party's state unit president.
Several BJP leaders, including Yeddyurappa, are also
facing corruption cases bringing the first-ever BJP government
in the south under a cloud.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 07, 2012, 21:36