BELAGAVI: The Congress on Thursday faced some embarrassing moments in the legislative assembly during the debate on the contentious anti-conversion bill as leader of opposition Siddaramaiah caught off guard when the BJP asserted that the bill was in fact drafted by his government in 2016.
Initiating the debate on The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 that was introduced on Tuesday, law and parliamentary affairs JC Madhuswamy said the bill was initiated by the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah and the BJP government is only taking it forward with slight modifications.
“The bill we have tabled is nothing new. It was prepared by the Congress government in 2016 and the Law Commission of Karnataka had drafted it and it was even scrutinised by the scrutiny committee. But, it was not taken to the cabinet. I don’t know why Siddaramaiah is opposing the bill that was drafted and initiated by his own government,” said Madhuswamy
Siddaramaiah, who was leading the attack against the bill, refuted Madhuswamy’s claim and said his government had never intitad the bill since the party is against such laws which are against the Constitution. He challenged Madhuswamy to show the document to prove that the bill scrutinised.
“I had called the then law minister TB Jayachandra and asked whether the bill was initiated by our government. He said no such step was taken. The bill was never initiated by our government,” said Saiddaramaiah.
Madhuswamy submitted the documents to Speaker Vishweshwar Herge Kageri, who read out that the papers, according to which the bill was not just scrutinised by the scrutiny committee but also the chief minister Siddaramaiah had directed to bring it to the cabinet.
“The note dated November 16, 2016 says you had asked the authorities to place the draft bill before the cabinet,” said Kageri addressing Siddaramaiah. “After the scrutiny the draft bill went to the then social welfare minister H Anjaneya, who in turn sent it to you. And you asked it to the place before the cabinet.”
A visibly confused Siddaramaiah challenged the claim and asked whether the document had his signature and the Speaker retorted that it bears his signature.
At this juncture, former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa intervened to ask Siddaramaiah why he is denying the documents created by his own government.
“The Speaker has said the note has your signature. If you don’t trust the document signed by you as the chief minister, only God can save the state. You will be the laughing stock. Don’t allow that to happen,” said Yediyurappa addressing Siddaramaiah.
Minister for rural development and panchayat raj KS Eswrappa and revenue minister R Ashok join together to attack Siddaramaiah. While Eswarappa sought Siddaramaiah’s resignation as leader of opposition, Ashoka said he was caught red-handed.
Yediyurappa suggested that the Speaker should convene a meeting with Siddaramaiah and Madhuswany and show the documents to the leader of position and the bill can be passed unanimously if he is convinced.
Kageri adjourned the house for 10 minutes and convened the meeting at his chamber to show the documents to Siddaramaiah.
When the house was reconvened, Siddaramaiah admitted that he had signed the note but he had forgotten about it.
“Yes the bill was drafted and it was scrutinised and I had also asked to place it before the cabinet. But, later we didn’t consider it. The cabinet did not discuss it and did not approve it. So, it shows that my government had no intention to bring in the legislation,” said Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah even stumbled while debating on the bill as he said the population of Hindus had increased from 83.86% in 2001 to 84% in 2011. The BJP member P Rajeev raised a point of order saying Siddaramaiah was misquoting the census figures, according to which the Hindu population has actually decreased from 83.86% in 2001 to 79.8% in 2011.
Siddaramaiah admitted that he had not gone through the census report and the figures he was quitting was taken from google and it is about Karnataka population not the national figures.
Initiating the debate on The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 that was introduced on Tuesday, law and parliamentary affairs JC Madhuswamy said the bill was initiated by the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah and the BJP government is only taking it forward with slight modifications.
“The bill we have tabled is nothing new. It was prepared by the Congress government in 2016 and the Law Commission of Karnataka had drafted it and it was even scrutinised by the scrutiny committee. But, it was not taken to the cabinet. I don’t know why Siddaramaiah is opposing the bill that was drafted and initiated by his own government,” said Madhuswamy
Siddaramaiah, who was leading the attack against the bill, refuted Madhuswamy’s claim and said his government had never intitad the bill since the party is against such laws which are against the Constitution. He challenged Madhuswamy to show the document to prove that the bill scrutinised.
“I had called the then law minister TB Jayachandra and asked whether the bill was initiated by our government. He said no such step was taken. The bill was never initiated by our government,” said Saiddaramaiah.
Madhuswamy submitted the documents to Speaker Vishweshwar Herge Kageri, who read out that the papers, according to which the bill was not just scrutinised by the scrutiny committee but also the chief minister Siddaramaiah had directed to bring it to the cabinet.
“The note dated November 16, 2016 says you had asked the authorities to place the draft bill before the cabinet,” said Kageri addressing Siddaramaiah. “After the scrutiny the draft bill went to the then social welfare minister H Anjaneya, who in turn sent it to you. And you asked it to the place before the cabinet.”
A visibly confused Siddaramaiah challenged the claim and asked whether the document had his signature and the Speaker retorted that it bears his signature.
At this juncture, former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa intervened to ask Siddaramaiah why he is denying the documents created by his own government.
“The Speaker has said the note has your signature. If you don’t trust the document signed by you as the chief minister, only God can save the state. You will be the laughing stock. Don’t allow that to happen,” said Yediyurappa addressing Siddaramaiah.
Minister for rural development and panchayat raj KS Eswrappa and revenue minister R Ashok join together to attack Siddaramaiah. While Eswarappa sought Siddaramaiah’s resignation as leader of opposition, Ashoka said he was caught red-handed.
Yediyurappa suggested that the Speaker should convene a meeting with Siddaramaiah and Madhuswany and show the documents to the leader of position and the bill can be passed unanimously if he is convinced.
Kageri adjourned the house for 10 minutes and convened the meeting at his chamber to show the documents to Siddaramaiah.
When the house was reconvened, Siddaramaiah admitted that he had signed the note but he had forgotten about it.
“Yes the bill was drafted and it was scrutinised and I had also asked to place it before the cabinet. But, later we didn’t consider it. The cabinet did not discuss it and did not approve it. So, it shows that my government had no intention to bring in the legislation,” said Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah even stumbled while debating on the bill as he said the population of Hindus had increased from 83.86% in 2001 to 84% in 2011. The BJP member P Rajeev raised a point of order saying Siddaramaiah was misquoting the census figures, according to which the Hindu population has actually decreased from 83.86% in 2001 to 79.8% in 2011.
Siddaramaiah admitted that he had not gone through the census report and the figures he was quitting was taken from google and it is about Karnataka population not the national figures.
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