BANGAORE: Three Karnataka ministers - Lakshman Savdi, C C Patil and Krishna B Palemar - have resigned following allegations of watching porn clips in the legislative assembly.
It took just few minutes for the top BJP leaders, chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda, state BJP chief K S Eshwarappa and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to decide, who met early on Wednesday morning to seek resignations from the trio. The copies of their resignations have been forwarded to the governor for acceptance. While Savdi was holding cooperation portfolio, Patil was woman and child development minister. Palemar was entrusted with ports and environment responsibilities.
Savdi and Patil were caught allegedly watching porn film clips on the former's cell phone on the floor in the legislative assembly. The ministers were caught in the act even as the House was in the middle of the heated debate on the recent hoisting of Pakistan flag in Sindagi in Bijapur district. Close up shots of the ministers watching blue films were beamed on television channels in the evening and sparked off a furore. The television visuals showed both the minister sitting next to each other, gazing into Savdi's hand set and having a banter. This is for the first time that the Karnataka assembly is rocked by such a scandal. Savdi claimed that clips were forward by Palemar. Palemar, who had to pay a price for allegedly providing the blue film clippings to Savadi, said he was contemplating legal course over the issue, according to a PTI report.
Speaking on behalf of the party, Yeddyurappa said the ministers have voluntarily tendered resignation on moral grounds and none of the party leaders including Nitin Gadkari had any role to play. "Inquiry will be conducted and soon truth will be out," Yeddyurappa said. Sources said that the party had decided last night itself to take their resignation, but was awaiting for Yeddyurappa to come back from tour of Bidar. All the three ministers are staunch followers of Yeddyurappa and were pitching for his comeback as the chief minister.
Opposition leader Siddaramaiah not only sought his resignation, but also urged the Speaker not to allow Savdi, Patil and Palemar to attend the assembly. Speaker K G Bopaiah has convened an emergency meeting of business advisory committee (BAC) involving leaders of ruling and opposition to discuss the conduct of the members.
News by The Times of India
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