New Delhi:
Not surprisingly, the only matter up for discussion in the Karnataka Assembly today was the scandal surrounding three BJP leaders, who have resigned after they were allegedly caught watching porn on a cellphone in the House. Here are 10 big developments in the scandal:
- A six-member committee of the Karnataka Assembly has been asked to investigate the allegations against the three former ministers, who resigned this morning. The committee's report is due on March 13. The trio of BJP men need to provide their explanation by February 13. But they will not attend the House till the committee submits its findings.
- Speaker K G Bopaiah said, "The serious incident has come to my attention. It will be looked into with the seriousness it deserves. I will ask them to explain. It should never occur again. If guilty they will be punished."
- The now-former ministers caught in the scandal are Lakshman Savadi, CC Patil and Krishna Palemar. One of them believes he will be proved innocent. "We will request the honourable Speaker to conduct investigation and we will come out with a clean chit," said Mr Patil.
- Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda said today that "It is a matter of pride that the ministers resigned on their own. They are already being treated like criminals."
- Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said the party could not be held responsible, but added that "it is a matter of great regret that this involves our members."
- The opposition in Karnataka wants the former ministers to be expelled from the Assembly. Siddaramaiah of the Congress appealed to Speaker K G Bopaiah to use his "special powers" to make this possible. "The three have violated the sanctity of the House. Shame on the government," Mr Siddaramaiah said. The BJP cites technicalities and says the trio cannot be expelled from the House.
- BJP national president Nitin Gadkari has said an inquiry will be ordered against the three former ministers. "As of now, all the three ministers claim to be innocent. However, an inquiry will be ordered into the episode and suitable action will be taken by the Chief Minister of the state," he said. "There is deterioration in all walks of life. Unfortunately, politics has not remained immune to that," he added.
- Mr Savadi and CC Patil were filmed by a local channel while allegedly watching porn on Mr Palemar's cellphone. The channel, which was filming the proceedings of the House, began carrying the footage yesterday after the Assembly adjourned for the day.
- Mr Savadi said at a press conference last evening that he was not surfing porn and that he was watching a news story about a woman being molested. He had also said that he would not quit.
- The right-wing moral police of Karnataka, infamous for demanding bans on Valentine's Day celebrations and targeting women for going to pubs, has not commented on the controversy.