The Karnataka BJP has denounced the Congress-led state government for suspending 18 MLAs from the Assembly for a period of six months. The suspensions are based on allegations of indiscipline and breaches of House rules.
On Friday, the suspended legislators were actively protesting the Muslim quota bill, which proposes a four percent reservation for Muslims in government contracts—a measure introduced by the Congress administration. In response to the bill, BJP MLAs presented a memorandum to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, requesting that he dismiss the reservation.
During the Karnataka Legislative Assembly session today, Cooperative Minister K.N. Rajanna alleged that approximately 48 politicians, including prominent figures, were targeted in a honey-trapping scheme.
The BJP, along with its state president B.Y. Vijayendra, has condemned the suspensions, labeling the decision as undemocratic and unfair. Former Karnataka Chief Minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai claimed that the honeytrap case has damaged Karnataka’s reputation on a national scale and called for Siddaramaiah’s resignation. Speaking to the media in New Delhi, he accused the Congress party of leading the government into a cycle of moral decay fueled by its quest for power. “Wherever we look, we find corruption. This is clearly visible in the Legislative Assembly as well. The state has been grappling with a financial crisis, but now we face a ‘honey crisis,’” he stated.
Bommai further asserted that the government is bankrupt both financially and ethically. “A cabinet minister has publicly stated in the assembly that there was an attempt to honeytrap him. Even after 15 days of discussions, the Chief Minister has chosen to remain silent. This government has lost any moral authority it may have had and operates like a criminal cabinet,” he remarked.
In response, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah promised that a high-level investigation would be initiated following Co-operation Minister K.N. Rajanna’s complaint.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar criticized the BJP, stating, “The BJP is a party devoid of culture, and they lack decorum in the House. This behavior is shameful. In my 36 years in the Legislative Assembly, I have never witnessed such conduct.”
Addressing the honey-trap allegations, he emphasized that actions can only be taken if someone files a complaint. He also referred to a case where a woman had accused a BJP member of assaulting her in Vidhana Soudha, which is currently in court. “Why did the Bombay Boys from the BJP seek an injunction?” he questioned.
In response to allegations from BJP MLA Munirathna that D.K. Shivakumar was involved in the honeytrap, he stated, “The police complaint against him contains all the details of his actions in Vidhana Soudha. The BJP members are talking about R. Ashok and Yediyurappa. What goes around comes around. Those who engage in honeytraps do not simply approach you; they act when you provoke them. What can they do if you do not respond?”
The list of suspended MLAs includes Doddanagouda H. Patil, C.N. Ashwath Narayan, S.R. Vishwanath, B.A. Basavaraj, M.R. Patil, Channabasappa (Channi), B. Suresh Gowda, Umanath Kotyan, Sharanu Salagar, Shailendra Beldale, C.K. Ramamurthy, Yashpal Suvarna, Harish B.P., Bharath Shetty, Munirathna Basavaraj Mattimud, Dheeraj Muniraj, and Chandru Lamani.
