A stalemate gripped the Legislative Assembly on Friday as the Opposition members resorted to a dharna demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur over the allegations of large-scale irregularities in his department.
Declaring that they would not end their dharna till the Minister quits, they accused the Congress dispensation of raising resources through irregularities in the Excise Department to fund the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok raised the issue in the House, claiming that corruption involving several crores of rupees had occurred in the Department. He demanded the immediate resignation of Mr. Thimmapur, who was present in the House.
BJP members raised slogans and sought a debate on the alleged corruption under an adjournment motion. Speaker U.T. Khader said the issue would be taken up for discussion under Rule 69 of the House. Amid continued sloganeering by BJP members, the House was adjourned for lunch.
When the House re-assembled after lunch, the Opposition BJP members urged the Speaker to allow them to debate the issue. Not agreeing with Mr. Khader’s suggestion that the debate could be taken up later, BJP member V. Sunil Kumar said the issue should be taken up immediately for discussion “because money is being raised by the Congress dispensation in Karnataka to fund the elections”.
