Council Chairman should adjudicate row over charges against C. T. Ravi, says Somanna

Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti V. Somanna said that Chairman of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti should adjudicate the row over BJP leader C. T. Ravi’s alleged derogatory remarks against Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Mr. Somanna said the Chairman should give a ruling on the conduct of the BJP MLC as the alleged remarks were made in the House during the recently concluded Legislature session in Belagavi.

“If he is found to have committed a wrong, let the Chairman pronounce his decision”, he said while criticising the manner in which Mr. Ravi was arrested by the police. He also said that if the Chairman of the Legislative Council finds fault with Mr. Ravi and pronounces the punishment, the same will be accepted.

“Had it not been for the media, we do not know what would have happened to him,” said Mr. Somanna.

Pointing out that even a senior Minister like Satish Jharkiholi has sought an end to the issue, Mr. Somanna lamented the “revenge politics” that is playing out in Karnataka.

He wondered why Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwar were not speaking out on the need to end the controversy.

He alleged the ruling Congress in the State had exhausted the treasury and was unable to go before the people and take up developmental works. Hence, the ruling party was resorting to misleading the people, while claiming that States like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh had made a lot of development.

With regard to the protests against Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks against Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Somanna sought to defend the Home Minister while dismissing the “immature” behaviour of the Congress party.

He said the Congress, which had not supported Mr. Ambedkar when he was alive, had no moral right to use his name now. He claimed that the BJP government at the Centre had implemented a number of development programmes inspired by Mr. Ambedkar’s foresight and ideals.