Our Bureau

The Centre told Parliament on Monday that it has no role to play in Karnataka crisis, where the ruling Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government is facing the arduous task of keeping its flock together.

The Opposition raised the matter in the Lok Sabha during the zero hour as it did not get the permission of Speaker Om Birla to move an adjournment motion on the issue.

Raising the matter, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused the BJP of trying to destabilise the elected governments in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh by engineering defections. He said Parliamentary democracy has been the victim of conspiracy and other undermining activities under the BJP regime.

“They have taken our MLAs to a hotel in Mumbai. One of their MPs gave escort to these MLAs,” Chowdhury said and alleged that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy against governments headed by Opposition parties.

‘Problem within Cong’

Replying to this, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the BJP has nothing to do with the happenings in Karnataka. “We have never tried to exert pressure on any Opposition MP or MLA. We have never made any offers to lure people into BJP,” Singh said.

He added that the series of resignations were triggered by Rahul Gandhi’s decision to resign as the Congress President.

“He asked his own party people to resign. Even their senior leaders have resigned and resignations continue,” Singh said.

The Opposition was not ready to buy Singh’s arguments and some of their members stormed to the well of the House forcing adjournment.

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