The Karnataka state assembly witnessed opposition protests on Monday as the winter session began in Belagavi, a disputed region amid a border dispute with Maharashtra. Opposition leaders including Siddaramaiah, leader of the opposition and former minister, and his party colleague DK Shivakumar were seen sitting outside the state assembly, protesting against the Basavaraj Bommai government for unveiling Veer Savarkar’s portrait. The portrait was unveiled by Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri.
“They want our assembly proceedings not to happen. They want to stop it. They have brought this picture because we will raise a lot of corruption issues against them. They have no development agenda,” Karnataka Congress leader and MLA DK Shivakumar told ANI before unveiling the poster. The Savarkar portrait has emerged as the latest issue of contention between the ruling BJP and the Congress.
Regarding the protests, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said: What happens in the assembly is decided by the speaker. I will also talk to our leaders and the opposition.”
Meanwhile, the Belagavi Police reported that the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti was denied permission to hold the Mahamela convention under increased security. Large gatherings are restricted in the area in view of the assembly session.
Not only the Karnataka assembly, but also the Maharashtra state assembly witnessed protests. Several senior opposition leaders participated in the protest against the Karnataka government and Chief Minister Bommai. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra has also been criticized for not taking a stand on the border issue.
Last week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met the chief ministers of the two states. Before the session began, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that a proposal on the border issue will be passed in the assembly.
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