Waqf, Panchamasali quota issues rock Houses

BOTH Houses witnessed heated debates on Waqf issue and the demand to increase reservation for Panchamasali Lingayat community, here on Monday.

- PRAMOD VAIDYA & FIROZ ROZINDAR

As soon as the session began, MLAs from ruling and opposition parties traded charges and blamed each other for the controversy over the demand for increasing reservation for Panchamasalis. Assembly Speaker UT Khader adjourned the House for an hour.

The Upper House too witnessed noisy scenes during the debate on the demand for more quota for Panchamsalis. Chairman Basavaraj Horatti adjourned the House for some time as his efforts to pacify the irate members went in vain. Given the first day's development, both Houses may witness heated debates on Tuesday too.

According to sources in BJP, their legislators are ready to target the ruling Congress over the Waqf issue when it comes up for discussion, particularly in the Lower House.