Bangalore ATM attack, mining scam to dominate Karnataka Assembly's Winter Session beginning Monday

Bangalore: The Opposition BJP plans to attack Karnataka's Congress government on the issue of security following the brutal attack on a woman in a Bangalore ATM as the state Assembly's Winter Session begins on Monday.

Former Karnataka Home Minister R Ashok, a colleague of former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, said he plans to corner the government on the issue.

A man was caught on the CCTV attacking a 44-year-old woman with a machete inside the ATM at a busy intersection in the heart of Bangalore on Tuesday. While the victim, Jyothi Uday, is recovering at a private hospital in Bangalore from the severe injuries she suffered on her head, face and nose, the man still remains at large.

The Opposition had also planned to attack the state government on the alleged involvement of one of its ministers, Santosh Lad, in the illegal mining. But the Congress government has blunted the Opposition attack by asking Mr Lad.

Mr Lad, who held the information and infrastructure development portfolios, resigned on Friday and Governor H R Bhardwaj accepted his resignation on Saturday.

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Mr Lad, 38, mining magnate from the iron-ore rich district of Bellary, is the first member of the six-month-old Congress ministry to leave under a cloud.

Though his resignation meets the Opposition demand, the manner it came about seems to show the Congress in a poor light. Even as late as Friday, the Chief Minister's kept denying that he has sought Mr Lad's resignation, but within 24 hours the minister resigned claiming that he was doing so on his own to avoid "embarrassment" to the government and the party. "I voluntarily submitted my resignation to the Chief Minister. I have taken a moral stand in the interest of the party," Mr Lad told reporters after meeting Mr Siddaramaiah.

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The BJP, whose five year-rule 2008-13 was marred by the massive illegal iron ore mining and export scandal, among many others, had held demonstrations and petitioned Governor H R Bhardwaj for sacking Mr Lad.

The Karnataka Janata Party of former BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa was also seeking Mr Lad's resignation while an NGO, Samaja Parivartana Samudaya, had been releasing documents claiming that the minister's firm was indeed involved in illegal mining and exports. Mr Lad has, however, denied his involvement in illegal mining.

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While Mr Lad's resignation takes away a major issue the Opposition was planning to use to attack the government, it would still face the heat over several decisions which have led to major controversies.

Prominent among them is the government's plan to provide Rs 50,000 as aid to facilitate the marriage of women from minority communities. All the Opposition parties have been demanding that the facility be extended to the poor from all communities.

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The other issue the Opposition parties, particularly the BJP, plan to raise during the session is remunerative prices for sugarcane. The government recently fixed Rs 2,500 for a tonne of cane but a section of farmers want the amount to be increased by Rs 1,000.