Karnataka: BJP MLAs suspended for throwing bills in Deputy Speaker’s face

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Opposition BJP were suspended on Wednesday after they tore up copies of the Bills in the Karnataka assembly and hurled them at the Chair, while staging a dharna protesting the assignment of IAS officers on protocol duty for politicians participating in the Congress-led all party meet on Tuesday. The BJP and JDS members raised a storm as soon as the House met, taking strong objection to the Congress regime drafting senior IAS officers on political duty, something they said had never occurred in the history of Karnataka.

Former CM Basavaraj Bommai read out names of politicians, he said, were neither MLAs nor MPs but the government deputed IAS officers on their protocol duty, throwing all established norms to winds. Former law minister S Suresh Kumar took potshots at the government, saying the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers became INDIA administrative service personnel during the political event in Bengaluru.

He also added that the protocol demanded only provision of security arrangements for visiting dignitaries, and nothing beyond that. The BJP and JDS members sought an apology from the government for its conduct while chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar maintained that the state's gesture was part of the established etiquette.

The Speaker allowed passage of Bills amid the din, without the Opposition members participating in discussions. The Opposition members were furious that the Chair or the government was not making efforts to resolve the impasse and restore order in the House.

The Opposition lawmakers continued their protest after Khader left and Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani took over. The Chair identified 10 BJP lawmakers as those who indulged in unruly conduct by