For the second consecutive day, the principal opposition Congress, DMK and other opposition parties on Wednesday staged walkout in the Lok Sabha registering their protest over political developments in Karnataka.
Trinamool Congress, which did not join the opposition ranks during the walk-out on Tuesday, also staged walk-out.
As soon as the Zero Hour began, Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the politics of “poaching” as pursued by the BJP should come to an end forthwith – a charge denied by the ruling side.
For the third consecutive day, the issue was raised by Congress leader Mr Chowdhury and others.
Chowdhury said a ‘ghinauni sajish (dirty conspiracy)” was being made by the BJP and the central government to topple JD(S)-Congress regime in Karnataka.
“There is Marshal law in Maharashtra. Karnataka Minister (D K Shivakumar) was stopped from entering a Mumbai hotel where rebel MLAs are staying,” the Congress leader said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi made a brief intervention amid slogan shouting and defended the Mumbai police decision saying there has been a complaint that the rebel Karnataka legislators faced ‘threats’.
Joshi said rebel MLAs from Karnataka were camping in Mumbai and have given a letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner asking for protection from the Congress leader.
He displayed the letter in the House, received from the MLAs and said they have asked for protection, so the police was doing its job.
Joshi said the developments in Karnataka has been essentially sparked off by Congress president Rahul Gandhi himself and resignation have continued since Mr Gandhi started it.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said “It is unfortunate that they (Congress) are unable to control their own house and dragging the matter into the Lower House of Parliament and disturbing its functioning.”
Several Congress members, including Gaurav Gogoi trooped into the well of the House raising anti-government slogans and the Zero Hour continued amid din.
Some of them were heard saying – “We want justice” and “tanashahi band karo’ (Save democracy)’ .
Opposition members from other parties stood up supporting the Congress leader’s contention that he has right to raise the issue affecting Karnataka politics.
DMK members led by T R Baalu and Trinamool Congress, including Saugata Roy and Kalyan Banerjee, joined the Congress members in the protest.
Amid the din as some Congress members tried to display some papers with slogans written on it, the Congress members led by Mr Chowdhury and other parties staged walkout.
