Bengaluru, 14 Feb 

Legislative Assembly on Wednesday witnessed heated exchanges between Opposition BJP and ruling Congress members on Ram Temple and Hanuman flag issue during a debate on the law-and-order situation in State.

Listing out various incidents, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka targeted the Siddaramaiah administration, alleging deterioration of law and order situation in the State, during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address to the joint sitting of the State Legislature. 

As Ashoka referred to the arrest of Shrikanth Pujari in connection with a 1992 violence case during the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation, ahead of the consecration of the Lord Ram Lalla idol at the temple in Ayodhya, calling him a "Kar Sevak," the Congress members objected stating that Pujari had a criminal background and was involved in Matka related cases. Congress members claimed the BJP was insulting real Kar Sevaks and were giving a new definition for Kar Sevak, by using the term while referring to him.

Following this, there was a slugfest between the two sides as several BJP members alleged that the Congress governments had filed false cases against those involved in Ram Janmabhoomi agitation and Kar Sevaks in the past.

Bengaluru Cybercrime Capital of India: Ashoka

Ashoka said Bengaluru is the cybercrime capital of the country and City's residents lost Rs 432 crore to the menace in 2023.  According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there was a 46 per cent increase in crimes in State after Congress government came to power, the BJP leader said. “Karnataka now stands at third position in the country in crimes against women. The law and order in this State has gone for a toss; people committing crimes are not being punished effectively,” he added. 

About NIA arresting eight people in December 2023 in the State on charges of involvement in bomb preparations and promoting terror acts, Ashoka said Minaz alias Mohammed Sulaiman, the prime accused, attracted innocent college students through religious traps by offering money and job. “Until the NIA cracked down, the State police did nothing about such anti-social elements,” the BJP Leader said. 

Crimes against women

Ashoka also brought up Belagavi woman rape case and Hangal case in the Assembly. “We were all there in Belagavi for Winter Session when the incident took place, but none of us knew. The police hid the case; when the woman was harassed on the road, where were the police? Do not they have any informers?” Ashoka questioned.  Home Minister G Parmeshwara said he visited the woman the next day morning in the hospital and the accused were arrested within 24 hours. 

E-Swathu portal

Chikkamagaluru Congress MLA HD Thimmaiah raised the issue of properties not registered in E-Swathu online portal. Thimmaiah said 2,543 properties were not registered in E-Swathu portal but they are present in the register of the zilla chairman, Thimmaiah said. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge said the problem is persistent in many districts and they will take the support of the Revenue Department to fix the issue. 

Sports City in Yelahanka

Minister of Youth Services, Sports and ST Welfare B Nagendra said a Sports City spread across 100 acres will be built in Yelahanka and it will include coaching centres, hostels and facilities to train athletes. 

Purchase of copra

Sugarcane Development Minister Shivanand Patil said the purchase of copra from farmers by the State government has been postponed until next week. Though the number of coconut growers is maximum in Tumakuru, the registrations to sell the copra have been highest in Hassan. Patil said legal action will be taken against people who are faking as farmers to sell copra. —Salar News 

Ashoka slams guarantee schemes

Ashoka claimed that the guarantee schemes have put the State 20 years back. While opposing the governor’s speech at the commencement of the Assembly, Ashoka said to run the Shakti scheme, they had reduced the number of buses and cancelled many routes.

Gruha Lakshmi scheme has been inconsistent in payment to beneficiaries and “people come to us asking for the money,” he said. “If you cannot maintain the consistency, then do not make these promises,” Ashoka said. Regarding the Gruha Jyothi scheme, Ashoka said they are giving 200 units free but increasing the electricity prices. In the Anna Bhagya scheme, the State government is distributing rice from the Central government’s quota, he said.