The porn scandal on Wednesday rocked the Karnataka Assembly where the opposition Congress and JDS members sought suspension and disqualification of the three former Ministers involved in the episode from the House.
As soon as the Assembly met, Chief Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda informed the members about the resignations of the three Ministers, caught on camera watching sleazy clippings on their mobile phone in the House last evening.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah sought to move a resolution for immediate suspension and disqualification of Laxman Savadi, C. C. Patil and Krishna Palemar, which Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S. Suresh Kumar opposed on technical grounds.
Siddaramaiah's statement that the Ministers were watching ‘blue films’ enraged BJP member state unit chief K. S. Eshwarappa who said it would come out only after inquiry and that the former could not talk as he wished.
Eshwarappa was supported by his party colleagues while opposition MLAs were on the feet to make their point, resulting in a din. Flaying the government for opposing the resolution on ‘technical grounds’, Siddaramaiah appealed to Speaker K. G. Bopaiah to use his ‘special powers’ and allow the resolution.
"The three have violated the sanctity of the House. Shame on the government," Siddaramaiah said amid din as the Speaker adjourned the House for half-an-hour.
The JDS said it would move an adjournment motion seeking the trio's disqualification, and demanding a comprehensive probe and filing of criminal case against them.
Earlier, KPCC President G. Parameshwara, outside the Assembly, demanded the disqualification of the three MLAs and asked the government to seek a fresh mandate.
The issue also had its echo in the Legislative Council where the Opposition staged a dharna after Chairman D. H. Shankaramurthy disallowed discussion on the incident.