Bengaluru: The Karnataka assembly on Friday passed a bill suspending 18 BJP MLAs for six months over “indiscipline” and disrupting the proceedings of the House. This comes amidst a honey trap controversy with the BJP members alleging the Congress government of running a “honey trap factory.”
The bill was tabled by Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil which was approved by Karnataka assembly Speaker UT Khader.
The controversy broke out after KN Rajanna, the cooperation minister, alleged that there were attempts made to “honey trap” him during an assembly session. Rajanna’s statements caused chaos in the assembly with Opposition BJP members storming into the well of the House, demanding a judicial inquiry into the issue.
As per reports, the scandal involved 48 politicians from various parties, including Congress, BJP, and JDS. Responding to the claims, home minister G Parameshwara assured the assembly that a high-level probe would be launched into the matter. But the protest continued, during which chief minister Siddaramiah said that no one involved in the honey trap would be protected.
The Opposition demanded that the government should order an inquiry under a high court judge. BJP’s Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka, condemning the issue, said it was a deliberate conspiracy aimed at tarnishing the reputations of legislators and obstructing the work of elected officials.
