Bangalore: The monsoon session of the
Karnataka Legislature beginning from Monday is expected
to be stormy with the opposition Congress and JDS having a
host of issues, including the recent resignation by Lok Ayukta
N Santosh Hegde, to corner the ruling BJP.
Hegde, a former Supreme Court judge known for his fight
against corruption, had announced his resignation criticising
the BJP government for its "indifferent attitude" towards the
Lok Ayukta institution and fighting corruption.
His resignation on June 23, two days ahead of the BJP
completing two years in office, came as a jolt to the B S
Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka.
The controversy surrounding the alleged misuse of funds
collected for flood relief by the Congress and "favouritism"
resorted to by BJP in awarding compensation, besides retaining
more than Rs 400 crore funds raised through donations for
relief works in its coffers, would be another issue that is
expected to trigger pandemonium in the House.
The Congress and JDS will certainly display unity in
pulling up the government for its "failure" to provide relief
to those ravaged by the floods in September-October last year
in 15 districts even after ten months.
Several donors who assured government that they would
build houses were yet to fulfil their promise and even the
much touted Rs 500 crore investment promised by three Bellary
Ministers -- G Janardhana Reddy, B Sreeramulu and G Karunakara
Reddy -- had not provided any succour to families displaced by
floods.
The three mining magnates went on a parallel foundation
stone laying ceremony spree, after they launched a revolt
demanding Yeddyurappa`s ouster, last year. The party`s central
leadership had to step in to bring about a rapprochement
between Yeddyurappa and the dissidents and defuse the crisis
confronting BJP`s first independent government in the south.
Yeddyurappa has already admitted to the delay and has
promised to complete construction as early as possible.
Illegal mining, allegations of rape against former
minister H Halappa, Nithyanand issue, and a cheating case
filed against Social Welfare Minister D Sudhakara are also
expected to figure at the session that will last till July 30.
Yeddyurappa has said he was ready to reply to all the
issues raised by opposition and sought their cooperation.
The session will also be taking up debate on demand for
grants of 27 departments as Yeddyurappa had presented a
vote-on-account budget during March, which ends by July 31.
PTI
