Sudhakar's remarks against ex-speaker; Congress to move privilege motion

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Congress is moving a privilege motion against Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar for his remarks against Congress MLA and former speaker Ramesh Kumar.

The Karnataka assembly on Tuesday witnessed the heated exchange of words between K Sudhakar and former speaker K R Ramesh Kumar over the disqualification of 17 MLAs last year that eventually led to the fall Congress-JD(S) coalition government.

Sudhakar was among the rebel Congress and the JD(S) MLAs who had resigned from the assembly and was later disqualified by Kumar under the anti-defection law, taking note of the Congress party’s complaint about his alleged anti-party activities.

During the debate on the Constitution, Sudhakar raised the issue of how he along with 16 others had to go into oblivion for 14 months.

Directing his angst against Kumar, Sudhakar said, “The Speakers scope of enquiry with respect to acceptance and rejection of a resignation tendered by a legislator is limited to examine whether such a resignation was tendered voluntarily or genuinely. Once it is demonstrated that the member is willing to resign out of his free will, the speaker has no option but to accept the resignation. It is constitutionally impermissible for the speaker to take into account any extraneous factors.”

When Ramesh pointed out that Sudhakar jumped from one party to another, the minister said, “You don’t have any right to say this. You were with Janata Dal and later joined Congress. You cannot point an accusing finger at us.”

Meanwhile, Congress members objected and said, “You joined the other party (BJP) for power. You are the one who jumped from one party to another. The Supreme Court said that the MLAs were disqualified. Ramesh Kumar too raised the objection. What is the need to raise court judgements on the floor of the House?”

The commotion led to the adjournment of the House.