FIR against MLAs over Kambala event raises storm in Karnataka Assembly
FIR against MLAs over Kambala event raises storm in Karnataka Assembly
Bengaluru: The issue of filing an FIR against seven MLAs who attended a Kambala stadium foundation event in Udupi was raised in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday, leading to strong reactions from opposition BJP members.
Raising the matter, BJP MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty said the Koti Chennayya Jodukere Kambala Committee had organised a Kambala event and a foundation stone-laying ceremony for a stadium on February 28 at Badagabettu village on 6.30 acres of land belonging to the Youth Empowerment Department.
He said it is customary for the local MLA to head such a committee and perform the foundation ceremony. However, when preparations were complete and the event was about to begin in the presence of a large gathering, police informed that prohibitory orders had been imposed.
He added that the information was conveyed only after the stage programme had begun. An FIR was registered against 37 people, including MLAs, MPs and members of the Legislative Council who attended the event.
Supporting the protest, BJP MLA Sunil Kumar said an FIR had also been filed in his name. He said he would face the case but would not request the government to withdraw it. He questioned why the district administration first allowed the event and then suddenly imposed restrictions, and asked under whose pressure the decision was taken.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said authorities should have exercised better judgement and added that those in power must remember that authority is not permanent.
Responding to the issue, Home Minister G Parameshwara said there must have been valid reasons for the district administration or police to take such a decision. He said he was not justifying the action but would seek details on why prohibitory orders were imposed and why the FIR was registered before responding further.
BJP MLA Vedavyas Kamath said local representatives had invited district in-charge minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar for the event. He said she had conveyed her inability to attend but had asked organisers to proceed.