Opposition forces Karnataka governor to cut short speech

BANGALORE - Slogan shouting opposition rooting for Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s resignation over land scams Thursday forced Governor H.R. Bhardwaj to give up his speech to the joint sitting of the state legislature.

The Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) members were up on their feet as soon as Bhardwaj entered the state assembly hall at noon, urging him not to read the speech which marks the beginning of the year’s legislative business.

Led by opposition leader Siddaramaiah of the Congress and H.D. Revanna, leader of the JD-S in the assembly, the members said Yeddyurappa should quit over various scams, particularly over his nepotism in allotting to his kin prime lands in and around Bangalore.

Within minutes of starting the speech, prepared by the state cabinet, Bhardwaj abandoned the effort and left the hall.

Later, the assembly secretary announced the speech as delivered by the governor has been placed before the house.

Yeddyurappa and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party members sat impassively through the ruckus.

Speaker K.G. Bopaiah adjourned the house to meet Friday.

The uproar was expected as the JD-S had announced it would not allow the 10-day session to conduct any business till Yeddyurappa quits.

The Congress, the main opposition, had said it would intensify the agitation in the two houses of the Karnataka legislature, seeking Yeddyurappa’s resignation.

Yeddyurappa has denied any illegality in the land dealings but made his kin surrender the land as demand for his resignation mounted.