Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Leader of Opposition R. Ashok speak during the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly in Belagavi on Tuesday. | Photo credit:
Hindu Authority
Debate over infrastructure development and devastation in the recent floods and drought in North Karnataka saw an exchange of words between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP members, adjourning the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was forced to intervene to calm the mood and urged both parties to maintain decorum and follow the rules of the House and the tradition of not interrupting those allowed by the Speaker to speak.
The House was plunged into chaos after Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda interrupted Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka who had initiated the debate.
Ridicule and reaction
When Mr Ashok taunted the government over the delay in providing relief to drought-hit farmers, Mr Gowda took exception, pointing out that the state had approached the Supreme Court for the first time in the history of independent India to seek drought relief from the Centre. He was soon joined by Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge, who defended the government and also attacked the BJP for “playing politics” on the issue.
The BJP members rose and the house drowned in cacophony. Mr Ashok, when asked by the chairman to continue, refused and asked the ruling party members to decide what should be said and forced an adjournment.
A lesson in decor
When the House resumed, Mr. Siddaramaiah urged the members not to use unparliamentary language and also not to interrupt. “It is not right to interrupt when the Leader of the Opposition or the Chief Minister is speaking. If the speakers do not step down, they should not be interrupted. I will tell the members and ministers not to interrupt. Mr. Gowda was speaking facts.” He also urged the opposition to criticize the government based on facts and not to mislead the House.
Earlier, Mr. Ashok said that farmers are in distress and are taking to the streets in protest. “In May 2020, you (Mr Siddaramaiah) tweeted that you proposed to set up a fund of ₹ 5,000 crore to help distressed farmers. You promised the same in the 2023 election manifesto,” he said, wanting to know what happened to the promises.
In the Council too, BJP and Congress members engaged in a heated debate over relief to farmers who suffered losses due to heavy rains.
Published – 9 Dec 2025 20:29 IST
