18 Karnataka BJP MLAs Suspended For 'Disrespecting' Speaker, Marshalled Out Of Assembly — Video
Karnataka Assembly has suspended 18 BJP MLAs for six months for disrupting proceedings. The Bill was passed on Friday and the MLAs have been marshalled out of the Assembly.
Eighteen BJP MLAs were suspended for six months from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday for allegedly disrespecting Speaker UT Khader. The suspension resolution, moved by Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil, was adopted by the Assembly. Among those suspended are BJP chief whip Doddanna Gouda Patil, C N Ashwath Narayan, B A Basavaraju, M R Patil, Sharanu Salagar, Yashpal Suvarna, B P Harish, Bharat Shetty, Muniratna, and Basavaraj Mattimood.
The incident occurred on the final day of the Assembly’s budget session when BJP legislators staged a massive protest. The MLAs climbed onto the podium where Speaker UT Khader’s chair is located and threw papers at him. The demonstration was triggered by the opposition’s anger over the government’s decision to allocate a four per cent reservation to Muslims in public contracts, news agency PTI reported.
Reading out the suspension order, Speaker UT Khader said, “The incident has hurt us a lot and it’s painful. This seat is not just a chair. This is the symbol of democracy, truth and justice. To speak from this chair is a matter of pride. Every member should protect the dignity and sanctity of this chair. None of us are above the chair. Our personal sentiments should not be above the dignity of this chair. We should behave with commitment, calm and a civilised way. Let this incident be a lesson for us. Let us in the coming days respect the Constitution and the sanctity of this chair.”
#WATCH | Bengaluru: Karnataka Assembly passes the Bill for suspension of 18 BJP MLAs for six months for disrupting the proceedings of Assembly. The Bill was tabled by Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil.
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025
(Video Source: Vidhana Soudha) pic.twitter.com/fMyF9ib50r
Following the suspension order, the BJP MLAs initially refused to leave the House, prompting marshals to forcibly evict them.
VIDEO | Bengaluru: Suspended MLAs were marshalled out from Karnataka Assembly.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 21, 2025
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/c67uJrpPzD
Karnataka Minister MB Patil told the media, "Totally unbecoming of members to behave like that... They did all possible violations in the Assembly so they have been suspended... This (suspension) is 100% justified", news agency ANI reported.
#WATCH | On suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from the House, Karnataka Minister MB Patil says, "Totally unbecoming of Members to behave like that...They did all possible violations in the Assembly...This (suspension) is 100% justified." pic.twitter.com/jarnM6X8Nu
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025
C.T. Ravi, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council, slammed the suspensions, saying, "Who imposed the Emergency? The Congress party. Who curtailed the rights of the people? The Congress party. Who arrested opposition leaders at that time? The Congress party. What can we expect from the Congress party? They have continued the same actions today by suspending 18 MLAs. What was our demand? Is the honey trap issue a minor matter? Is it a small issue?"
"A senior minister himself alleged that judges, senior officers, MLAs, and ministers were trapped in a honey trap network controlled by powerful individuals. After making such serious allegations, he has now remained silent," he added, as quoted by news agency IANS.
Karnataka: C.T. Ravi, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council, on the suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from the House, said, "Who imposed the Emergency? The Congress party. Who curtailed the rights of the people? The Congress party. Who arrested opposition leaders at that time? The… pic.twitter.com/WgftnH2b28
— IANS (@ians_india) March 21, 2025
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged the suspensions were carried out because "they opposed the anti-Ambedkar and anti-Constitution move by the Congress government"
"...Eighteen BJP MLAs were forcibly removed from the Karnataka Assembly by marshals, carried out on their shoulders, and suspended for six months. They will not even be able to participate in meetings. And all this just because they opposed the anti-Ambedkar and anti-Constitution move by the Congress government to grant 4% Muslim reservation, even in government contracts..." he remarked.
Delhi: BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla says, "...Eighteen BJP MLAs were forcibly removed from the Karnataka Assembly by marshals, carried out on their shoulders, and suspended for six months. They will not even be able to participate in meetings. And all this just because… pic.twitter.com/OtJVEeVHyF
— IANS (@ians_india) March 21, 2025
Pandemonium In Karnataka Legislative Assembly
Earlier, BJP leaders had protested from the Well of the House, accusing the government of attempting to honey-trap a minister. They demanded a judicial probe into the matter even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed the budget discussion.
BJP legislators raised loud slogans of “down, down” while some members held up CDs, claiming they had proof related to the alleged honey-trap conspiracy, ANI reported. The disruption intensified as BJP leaders entered the Well of the House while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was addressing the Assembly.
BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka termed the controversy a major conspiracy, stating, “It is not the issue of one party, it’s a biggest conspiracy against legislators who are working for the people and some are doing this (honey trap) with clear hidden agenda.”
Defending his government’s stance, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured that there was “no question of protecting anyone” in the honey-trap case. “The government has the responsibility to ensure justice. According to the law, the guilty should be punished. The Home Minister has already stated that if Rajanna files a complaint, a high-level probe will be conducted. Rajanna did not name anyone; action could be taken if he had,” Siddaramaiah said.
The BJP leaders had been demanding a judicial inquiry into the matter. However, the Chief Minister said that Deputy Chief Minister G Parmeshwara had already addressed the issue and initiated an inquiry into the allegations raised by Rajanna.
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