Congress sees through BJP, ends dharna

BANGALORE: The Congress on Thursday displayed its legislative acumen when it decided not to continue its dharna in the Assembly. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah ensured that the house resume transacting business.The Congress and JD (S) members resumed their dharna as soon as the house assembled at 11.40 am on Thursday, thus forcing Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah to adjourn the house for about two hours.During an informal chat with his colleagues, Siddaramaiah said that the ruling party members were deliberately instigating and provoking the Opposition members in order to stall the proceedings.“It is a trap laid by the ruling party as it does not want us to raise any other issue. We must take part in the proceedings and corner the state government,” Siddaramaiah  had advised.He then persuaded JD (S) floor leader H D Revanna to agree to the idea. When the house assembled again after lunch at 3.40 pm, the Opposition members insisted that proceedings resume.Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, however, welcomed the move. Bopaiah announced that certain remarks made by a few members from both the sides have been expunged.