Bengaluru: The govt’s move to get the assembly to unanimously condemn the “shuddhikaran” of the Ramlila Maidan stage in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally there on Aug 8, collapsed Tuesday after the BJP-JD(S) opposition refused to relent on its demand that B Nagendra quit as minister over his alleged role in the multi-crore Valmiki Corporation scam.A move that was meant to be a show of political unity crumbled, after the opposition insisted it would not trade its protest over the scam for a resolution against the Uttarakhand incident.Soon after question hour, Congress’ Sharath Bachegowda raised the issue, saying: “People with a Manuvadi mindset performed a homa to cleanse the place where Mallikarjun Kharge stood and later conducted a public ritual. This was not merely an insult to the Constitution but to humanity itself. Kharge, who hails from Kalburagi in Karnataka, has held several key positions both in the state and at the Centre. This act was an insult to his public service. We must condemn the incident and adopt a resolution criticising it and send it to the Centre.”Backing him, social welfare minister KH Muniyappa tried to move a condemnation resolution and appealed to all members to support it. Speaker GS Patil and Muniyappa also attempted to persuade opposition leader R Ashoka to call off the protest and allow a unanimous resolution to go through. But Ashoka refused.“The govt must first come clean on the embezzlement of money meant for Dalits through the Valmiki corporation. Minister B Nagendra, who was responsible for the department, must be sacked. Once that is done, we will offer support,” Ashoka said.The govt was left with no choice but to shelve its plan. GBA minister Krishna Byre Gowda later told TOI: “We could have passed the resolution, but without the support of the whole House, it would have amounted to rubbing salt into a wound. So, we decided to take it up later,” he said.BJP and JD(S) MLAs entered the assembly wearing black scarves and raised slogans demanding Nagendra’s resignation. The protest soon turned theatrical, with legislators swinging their scarves in the air and alleging that the “looted money” ultimately went to Congress’ headquarters. Ashoka told the speaker, “We have already made our stand on Nagendra clear. The ball is now in Congress’ court.”Patil appealed to protesting MLAs, saying: “Let us maintain the dignity of the House. Please remove your black scarves. You can give notice and raise the issue through a discussion.”The appeal failed to cool tempers, and Ashoka went on to detail the alleged flow of money in the scam, prompting Byre Gowda to intervene. “Making allegations without giving due notice amounts to a breach of privilege. The opposition is wasting time especially when the state is reeling under drought,” Byre Gowda said, triggering another round of confrontation. A visibly agitated Ashoka shot back, “Are you not ashamed to keep a corrupt minister in the cabinet?” He then waved copies of the CBI chargesheet, escalating tensions further.The exchange widened into a heated clash, and as the House descended into chaos, the speaker called it a day.Meanwhile, BJP’s protests demanding B Nagendra resign took an unexpected turn after ally JD(S) submitted an adjournment notice seeking a discussion on drought in 172 taluks. Speaker GS Patil said he would allow the discussion, but BJP members questioned the move. BJP’s Sunil Kumar and Ashwath Narayan urged JD(S) floor leader Suresh Babu to withdraw the notice. He did so, but Patil said it had already been accepted. Opposition members stayed away from the discussion. Suresh Babu told the speaker, “The discussion can happen when the House is in order. First, resolve the issue that is causing the protest.”
