The issue of alleged ‘Operation Kamala’ launched by BJP in Karnataka to topple JD(S)-Congress government figured prominently in the Lok Sabha with the Congress and saffron party members indulging in charges and counter charges against each other.
The issue was first raised during Question Hour by Congress member K C Venugopal and later by Mallikarjun Kharge during Zero Hour.
Reading out transcripts of the audio that has been reported in a section of media, Mr Kharge claimed senior BJP leaders have been trying to lure Congress legislators and offering them ‘money’ to quit Congress and defect.
Amid strong protest from BJP members Pralhad Joshi and Shobha Karandlaje, Speaker ruled that no names of persons who are not members of the House can be taken.
He was countered by Union Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation V D Sadananda, who said the Congress leaders are spreading falsehood on the issue as there is intense fighting between JD(S) and Congress and also among the Congress legislators themselves.
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda of JD(S) said BJP has tried their ‘Operation Kamala’ in 2009 also.
“I may not be in House….but something has to be done and save the democracy,” the 86-year-old Mr Gowda said requesting the Speaker Ms Mahajan to urge the central government to discourage such acts in the state.
Union Minister Mr Sadanand Gowda maintained that the ‘fake’ stories are being spread by JD(S) and Congress in the House only to “save the Chief Minister’s chair”.
“There have been so much of infighting in Congress that MLAs indulged in violence against each other and few members had to undergo medical treatment for 10 days,” he said the issue raised by Congress and JD(S) members pertained to state subject and the state assembly was already on in Karnataka.
“They are not able to keep their house in order and blaming the BJP now,” said Mr Gowda, who was also state Chief Minister.
“They are staging nataka (drama),” he alleged adding whatever observations made by Mr Kharge and Mr Gowda were not true.
Mr Kharge, who wanted to speak again, later said his party would stage walkout even as Speaker disallowed him to raise the matter again and moved to next item and allowed resume the inconclusive debate on the Budget. (UNI)