Bangalore:
They don't exactly conjure up images of James Dean, but the Opposition MLAs in Karnataka insist they're rebels with a cause.
For the third night in a row, they slept at the Karnataka Assembly - their sleep-in aimed at spurring the BJP government into ordering a CBI inquiry against illegal mining, and the alleged involvement of state ministers-plus-mining-barons, the Reddy brothers.
The sleepover protest has not been an exacting one on anyone except voters - the face-off between the Opposition and the BJP has meant no work has been accomplished by these politicians this week. "We will go on till the government does not agree for CBI inquiry. We are not willing to back off. There are no problems or troubles...we have done this kind of agitations before outside. This is the first time we are doing it in this style. Everyone is doing it together so the atmosphere is also good. There is brotherhood," said Dinesh Gundurao, a Congress MLA.
The frat party is punctuated with frequent deliveries of mutton biryani and occasional performances of folk songs by the more musically-inclined MLAs. An empty water jug was turned into a tabla by one of them.
As they sprawl, YMCA style, on the floor next to each other for their naps, they deny that this is getting old. "We do not sleep in air conditioning every day and that is why it is comfortable here. 20,000 crore has gone in illegal mining and that is why we are demanding a CBI inquiry. This is a morning habit... to wake up and have tea. It is comfortable and there are no problems," said Dr. Pramesh, also a Congress MLA.
In an attempt to rouse new attention and energy, on Thursday morning, Congress MLAs added black gags to protest against the stifling of democracy. Their folk songs were not muzzled. In the afternoon, they caused chaos during a discussion on a bill to ban cow slaughter. Congress and JDS members of the legislative council tore the copies of the bill in protest, but with the BJP having a majority, the bill was passed with a voice vote.
Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has made it clear that a CBI inquiry against the Reddy brothers is not about to be sanctioned. The BJP's support for Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy comes even as the state's governor, HR Bhardwaj, has briefed the President and the Prime Minister on the growing controversy over alleged illegal mining. Earlier this week, Bhardwaj said corrupt ministers must be sacked. The BJP pointed out that it is not for the Governor to instruct the chief minister on how to run his government. Bhardwaj is "a Congress agent," the party said.
Privately, BJP sources say that the party is getting tired of the Reddy brothers, who, just six months ago, threatened to split the state BJP if the Chief Minister didn't do as they pleased. He did, sacking a minister who the Reddys were opposed to. In their campaign against the mining barons, the Congress and the JD(S) have formed a united opposition in Karnataka - another problem for the BJP government. But a split within the BJP is not something the party wants to contend with currently.
As for the Congress, it benefits immensely from a shaky BJP government in Karnataka. The Reddys have been allegedly trying to destabilize the Congress government in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, where they also have mining interests and powerful connections. If the BJP is preoccupied with presenting a united front in Karnataka to save its government there, Andhra gets a breather.