Govt says it is yet to study Somasekara commission report

Govt says it is yet to study Somasekara commission report

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, March 1: Home Minister R Ashoka said that the government was yet to study the Justice B Somasekara Commission report on church attacks.

Replying to the Congress members in the Legislative Assembly, who made a vain bid to seek an adjournment motion against the government over the report, he said the Commission had submitted its final report on January 28.

The minister’s statement seems to indicate that the government’s resolute defence of the findings of the Commission was undertaken without going into the details of the report.

The Home department will look into the 1,800-page document and later it will be considered by the Cabinet. Thereafter, it will become the property of the Assembly. At present, it cannot be discussed in the House, he said.

Dismissing the charges of the Congress that the minorities in the State were feeling insecure, Ashoka said all the communities, including the Christians, were well protected by the government. There is no law and order problem, he added.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah sought to make a preliminary submission on an adjournment motion he sought to move against the government over the report. He and his partymen alleged that the Somasekara Commission had failed to do justice to the community, and demanded a discussion on the report.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar argued that the report could not be discussed in the House as it was not an issue that had taken place in recent times. There were heated exchanges between the Minister and Siddaramaiah for sometime.

Speaker Bopaiah then set aside the notice submitted by the Congress, leading to a walkout by the Opposition parties.

The issue was raised in the Legislative Council as well. Leader of the Opposition C Motamma demanded a CBI probe into the attacks on churches.

Seeking an adjournment motion on the issue, she sought a debate on the Somasekara Commission report in the House. But Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya rejected the demand stating what the Home Minister had said in the Assembly.

Congress, JD(S) stage walkout over Somasekhara panel report
But the Opposition members staged a walkout when Chairperson D H Shankaramurthy turned down their demand.

They demanded that the government table the report in the House and take action against those responsible for giving the report to media even before it was tabled in the Legislature.

Leader of the Opposition Motamma sought to draw the attention of the House on the final report of the commission being at variance with its interim report. Though the Opposition members sought to move an adjournment motion on the issue, Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy turned down their plea.