Karnataka BJP holds protests demanding withdrawal of suspension of 18 party MLAs

The opposition BJP protested Wednesday, calling on Speaker U T Khader to immediately overturn the decision, calling the suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from the Karnataka Assembly "dictatorial" and "undemocratic." BJP lawmakers carrying signs and yelling slogans protested in front of the monument of Kengal Hanumanthaiah at the Vidhana Soudha premises here, calling the Speaker "pro-Congress" and "one-sided."

If the suspension was not lifted right away, they threatened to escalate the demonstration. In a historic action, 18 BJP MLAs were suspended from the Karnataka Assembly for six months on March 21 for displaying "indiscipline" and "disrespecting" the Speaker. When they refused to leave, the marshals forcibly removed them from the House.

Following a large-scale demonstration by opposition BJP MLAs against the 4% reservation for Muslims in public contracts and their demand for a judicial investigation into the "honey-trap" attempt against Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna, the incident took place on the final day of the assembly's budget session.