The Opposition Congress and JD(S) members sat on a dharna in the Karnataka Assembly today against the passage of two private university bills, but called it off after an assurance that their concerns would be addressed when the proposed legislations are debated in the Upper House.
Angry over the refusal of their plea to refer the Azim Premji University Bill and Alliance University Bill to a joint select committee of the Karnataka legislature, Congress members led by Siddaramaiah and JD(S) members sat on dharna.
Siddaramaiah, Congress deputy leader T B Jayachandra and Bandeppa Kashampur (both JD-S) hit out at the government for “setting a bad precedent” of passing the bills when the opposition were on dharna and the House was not in order.
Following a plea by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Speaker K G Bopaiah adjourned the House for a brief spell and met floor leaders in his chamber. A consensus was reached that the government would consider objections of the opposition when these bills are taken up for consideration in the legislative council.