Karnataka legislature session to begin today, expected to be stormy

Bengaluru: Opposition BJP is expected to corner the Congress Government in Karnataka during the Legislature session beginning on Monday, on a host of issues, including Tipu Sultan Jayanti celebrations and violence that followed it.

The 10-day session to be held till November 27 at Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat here, is expected to be stormy with BJP and Congress likely to level allegations and counter-allegations holding each other responsible for violence that followed the Tipu Jayanti on November 10.

The celebrations amidst protest from few pro-Hindu outfits had lead to death of two persons including a VHP leader in Kodagu district, and a man was stabbed in Bantwal taluk near Mangaluru.

"This is the first government in the state that has tried to create friction between communities," Leader of Opposition in the Council K S Eshwarappa said.

"To fulfill their ambition to stay in power, they have tried to create divide between Hindus and Muslims.... We will raise these issues in the legislature beginning from tomorrow, also repeated incidents of rape in the state," he added.

On the other hand Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has blamed BJP and VHP for violence following Tipu Jayanti, blaming them for organising protests during the celebration.

Countering it, BJP has blamed Congress government for remarks made by Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad that international airport at Bengaluru should have been named after Tipu Sultan rather than the city's founder, Kempe Gowda.

Karnad had made these remarks at the government organised Tipu Jayanti function in the presence of the Chief Minister.

However, JD(S) has said it will not support any wastage of time during the session by raising issues relating to Tipu Sultan or Kempe Gowda.

Opposition is also expected to target government on issues related to farmers' suicide, incidents of rape, and load shedding. They are likely to demand resignation of Social Welfare Minister Anjaneya following a bribery sting operation by a TV channel on his wife allegedly accepting bribe of Rs seven lakh regarding a tender pertaining to his department.

Opposition is likely to initiate the process for the removal of Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao following the alleged bribery scandal involving his son.

A bill seeking amendment to Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act is also likely to be taken up during the session.