Karnataka BJP Protests Suspension Of 18 MLAs: 'Don't Bring Back Emergency Now'

BJP leaders strongly criticised Speaker UT Khader's decision to suspend the MLAs on March 21 after BJP legislators allegedly disrespected the Speaker’s chair by throwing torn copies of a Bill at him.

The party demanded an immediate revocation of the suspension and rollback of price increases.

Source : X

The Karnataka BJP staged a protest at Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday condemning the Speaker's decision to suspend 18 of its MLAs for six months and the recent hikes in prices of essential commodities, including milk and garbage tax. The party demanded an immediate revocation of the suspension and rollback of price increases.

BJP Leaders Rally Against Govt Actions

The protest took place in front of the statue of former Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah with key BJP leaders participating, including Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, BJP state president BY Vijayendra, and several MLAs and MLCs.

BJP leaders strongly criticised Speaker UT Khader's decision to suspend the MLAs. The suspension, imposed on March 21, came after BJP legislators allegedly disrespected the Speaker’s chair and threw torn copies of a Bill at him.

Suspension Of MLAs

Regarding the suspension of 18 MLAs, Vijayendra argued, "18 BJP MLAs were suspended with unheard of strict conditions when they were protesting on the floor of the house peacefully. What nonsense is this?... We respect the Speaker's chair, but the Speaker should not have acted unconstitutionally and as an agent of the state government... All BJP MLAs and MLCs have decided that until this suspension is revoked unconditionally, none of us will attend any committee meeting."

ಸರ್ವಾಧಿಕಾರಿಯಂತೆ ವರ್ತಿಸಿ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯ 18 ಶಾಸಕರನ್ನು ಅಮಾನತು ಮಾಡಿದ ಸ್ಪೀಕರ್‌ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಇಂದು ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಶಾಸಕರು ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧದ ಎದುರು ಕೆಂಗಲ್‌ ಹನುಮಂತಯ್ಯ ಪ್ರತಿಮೆ ಬಳಿ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ನಡೆಸಿ, ಸಭಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರ ಕಚೇರಿಗೆ ತೆರಳಿ ಅಮಾನತು ರದ್ದುಗೊಳಿಸಿ ಶಾಸಕತ್ವವನ್ನು ಮರುಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸುವಂತೆ ಮನವಿ ನೀಡಿದರು.

ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ್ಯಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ… pic.twitter.com/X6WwdQKrNz

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 2, 2025

CT Ravi linked the suspension to an alleged cover-up, claiming, "Congress is trying to suppress democracy. They are hiding the ‘honey-trap’ scam. We all remember the Emergency—don't bring it back now."

Price Hike Sparks Backlash

BJP state president BY Vijayendra slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over rising costs, stating, "The Siddaramaiah government increasing the diesel price when the BJP has already hit the streets against the Congress government hiking prices, shows the Chief Minister's arrogance. The entire government running the administration by sitting in an air-conditioned room is not able to understand the common man's suffering and ground realities."