Bengaluru: Members of the principal Opposition party, BJP, on Monday blocked a no-confidence motion moved by JD (S) legislators in the Assembly, demanding that the House discuss the issue of suicide by farmers through an adjournment motion.
During the verbal duel that ensued between ruling Congress and BJP members, the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi could be heard.
Amid the din and slogan shouting, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa completed the question hour, though nothing was audible. JD (S) members maintained a stoic silence throughout the clash between Congress and BJP legislators.
Earlier, it was clear that BJP leaders were not keen to back the no-confidence motion being moved by JD(S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy who submitted a notice to the Speaker, with signatures of 36 party legislators. More than 30 JD(S) legislators attended the Assembly today.
BJP legislators, however, had other plans as they demanded that they be allowed to move an adjournment motion on farmers ending their lives. Mr Kagodu Thimmappa acknowledged that he received notices for both the adjournment motion as well as the no-confidence motion, and that he would allow a discussion only after question hour. While JD(S) members conceded, BJP legislators stormed into the well of the House and started shouting slogans.
When ruling party members got into an argument with BJP members, Mr Thimmappa adjourned the House. When the House reassembled, BJP members continued their protest. Mr Thimmappa decided to go ahead with the question hour amid much chaos.
At one point, BJP members mentioned Mr Rahul Gandhi during their sloganeering, asking where the leader was when farmers were committing suicide. Congress members retaliated, asking where Mr Modi was touring abroad.
Moneylenders beware! Siddu’s finally coming after you
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government would initiate stringent action against private money lenders who were harassing farmers even as Opposition BJP legislators trooped out of the Assembly on Monday.
In addition, the state government plans to constitute a committee of experts to study factors which triggered a spate of suicides by farmers during the last two months. The government also conceded the Opposition’s demand to increase the ex-gratia for the kin of victims from Rs one lakh to Rs two lakhs.
The CM, however, rejected the Opposition’s demand to hike the ex-gratia amount from Rs one lakh to Rs 10 lakhs on grounds that such a move would turn out to be an incentive for farmers.
Replying to the debate on suicide of large number of farmers, Mr Siddaramaiah said: “The government has already formed a joint committee headed by the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police to look into every case in the last six months. The committee will have full powers to tackle private money lenders.”
This committee would travel extensively in each taluk to instill confidence among farmers as well as tackle menace of moneylenders. “The district administration will file criminal cases against money lenders and charge them with abetment of suicide for this harassment,” he added.
