Bengaluru, September 21 (Daily Kiran) : Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently addressed the resignation of Congress MLA B. Nagendra from his cabinet position, attributing it to pressure from the opposition. Speaking in the Karnataka Assembly, Shivakumar described Nagendra as an “innocent” individual who was forced to resign due to the demands of the BJP legislators. He criticized the opposition for disrupting the assembly proceedings instead of engaging in constructive discussions.
Shivakumar’s comments came during a special session called to address issues related to the drought situation and the Kasturirangan report. Opposition leader R. Ashok insisted that these matters should be discussed under a suspension motion he submitted to the Speaker.
In his address, Shivakumar stated, “We were compelled to make an innocent person resign due to the pressure from the opposition. I asked them why they were demanding his resignation, but they had no response and chose to obstruct the proceedings instead.” He acknowledged the opposition’s right to protest, stating, “Let them do it; democracy allows for such actions.”
He further asserted that there was no need for a “work stoppage motion,” as the government had already convened a special session to discuss these very issues. Ashok questioned the legal basis for calling the special session, claiming there was no provision in the law for such an action.
Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda added that the opposition’s motion was unnecessary since the government had already arranged discussions on the same topics. Shivakumar recalled how the opposition had previously disrupted the last monsoon session, preventing any meaningful dialogue, which led to a two-day reduction in the session.
He explained that he had visited various districts to gather information regarding the drought and the Kasturirangan report before calling the special session. The deadline for the state to communicate its position on the Kasturirangan report to the central government is September 27.
Shivakumar emphasized that he could have sent the report directly to the center but preferred that elected representatives engage in discussions about these critical issues. He reiterated that the session was called in response to the public’s needs and that discussions would focus on the drought and the Kasturirangan report.
He also mentioned that 120 taluks have already been declared drought-affected, with investigations ongoing for another 100 taluks to determine their status. Additionally, he noted that legislators had raised concerns about the report’s potential impact on farmers, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. Meetings with MPs, MLAs, and MLCs have been conducted to address these pressing issues.
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