10 BJP MLAs suspended from Karnataka Assembly for indiscipline

Papers were hurled at Lamani during the first half of the session when the BJP was protesting the government decision to depute IAS officers to welcome leaders who arrived for the Congress-led opposition parties meeting held in the city on Tuesday. Khader — as soon as the House convened for the second half — announced that action would be initiated against the legislators and named 10 of them, following which Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil proposed that the members be suspended till the end of session on July 21.

Khader put the suspension under rule 348 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business for vote, which was passed.

Dramatic scenes were witnessed after the suspension as BJP MLAs continued to remain in the well of the House. As the marshals entered the well to remove the legislators, the group of BJP MLAs present resisted, making it difficult to remove the suspended legislators.

This led to a scuffle lasting around 10-15 minutes. In the melee while removing the legislators, some marshals mistakenly lifted Siddu Savadi and were carrying him out, before they were stopped as the MLA was not among the suspended.

The government passed five Bills in the din and Speaker U T Khader decided to take up discussion on the budget without adjourning the House for lunch. The delay in adjourning the Assembly for lunch infuriated the BJP legislators further, who intensified their protest. Lamani, who was occupying the Speaker’s chair, after Khader left on a break, bore the brunt of opposition anger. A few BJP legislators tore up copies of the Bills passed and threw them at him, angering the Treasury benches.

Meanwhile, BJP legislators have decided to move a no confidence motion against the Speaker.