Honey Trap Row Hits K'taka Assembly

18 BJP legislators suspended for 6 months for disregarding Speaker as chaos erupts

- DEVARAJ B HIREHALLI @Bengaluru

The 15-day budget session ended here on Friday on a bitter note with Assembly Speaker UT Khader suspending 18 BJP MLAs for six months for showing disregard to his chair during a heated debate on the alleged honey trap attempt on minister KN Rajanna.

The Council also witnessed pandemonium with Opposition MLAs attacking the government over the 4% reservation for Muslims in contracts for government's civil works.

In the Assembly, BJP MLAs led by Leader of Opposition R Ashoka stormed into the Well protesting against the suspension of 18 legislators from the saffron party, who were carried away by the marshals amid noisy scenes.

"Since they showed disrespect to the constitutional chair, I acted to protect its dignity," Khader told reporters, defending his action.

The BJP MLAs' contention was that action had been initiated against them, but not against those allegedly involved in honey trapping some MLAs.