BJP seeks apology from Speaker for suspending 18 MLAs for six months in Karnataka

BJP leaders accuse the Speaker of misusing the ruling party’s arithmetic majority to suppress the voice of opposition MLAs as well as the people represented by them. 

Taking an aggressive posture with respect to Speaker U. T. Khader’s decision to suspend 18 of its MLAs for six months, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party demanded a public apology from the Speaker while terming his decision as unconstitutional and against the Supreme Court’s verdict regarding suspension of MLAs. 

“In its order in 2022 regarding suspension of 12 MLAs in Maharashtra, the Supreme Court had observed that the Assembly could suspend MLAs only for a limited period necessary to restore order in the House,” the BJP argued in a fresh memorandum submitted to the Speaker on April 2. Earlier, its legislators staged a dharna in front of the Kengal Hanumanthaiah statue in Vidhana Soudha against suspension of the MLAs. 

Taking exception to the Speaker suspending 18 of its MLAs for six months on the last day of the Budget session, the BJP maintained that the Speaker could not suspend MLAs beyond the duration of the session.

The memorandum has been signed by Leader of Opposition in Assembly R. Ashok and in the Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, and by BJP State unit President B. Y. Vijayendra. They have accused the Speaker of misusing the ruling party’s arithmetic majority to suppress the voice of opposition MLAs as well as the people represented by them. 

The BJP leaders maintained that it appeared that the Speaker had decided on suspending the MLAs though he claims that it was not his decision, but that of the House, as it adopted a resolution seeking the suspension of these MLAs on the charges of insulting him and his post. 

The BJP leaders demanded that the Speaker apologise to the Constitution for acting against its principles by suspending the MLAs for such a long period. They accused him of acting against the oath taken by him to act without any prejudice. 

The BJP leaders took exception to the Speaker’s interview in a newspaper in which he reportedly stated that he took the decision to suspend the MLAs for six months as he has courage.