K’taka : Oppn protests unveiling of Savarkar’s portrait in assembly

Belagavi, Dec 19 : Opposition legislators including LoP Siddaramaiah on Monday staged a protest on the steps of Suvarna Soudha over the unveiling of Veer Savarkar’s portrait in the Assembly.
Savarkar’s portrait was installed along with the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr BR Ambedkar, and Sardar Vallabhai Patel among others. It was unveiled by Karnataka Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hours before the winter session.
Replying to a query, Kageri on Sunday said since he is the custodian of the House, it is his responsibility of whatever happens in it.
Bommai said the unveiling of portraits in the Assembly is Speaker’s prerogative, but he would speak to both Speaker and Opposition leader.
Reacting to it, Siddaramaiah said though the Speaker is the custodian of the assembly, the House should have been confident. “It was not even discussed in the Business Advisory Committee,” he said.
Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar said the BJP wants disruptions in the House to avoid discussions on its government’s corrruption. “They don’t have any development agenda,” he said.
Reacting to Congress’ protest Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the party of indulging in appeasement politics.