Bengaluru: Opposition members in the Legislative Assembly on Monday strongly objected ministers not present during the debate on the State Budget. When the House assembled to discuss the Budget, only Minister T B Jayachandra was present in the House.
Raising the objection, Leader of Opposition Jagadish Shettar said the ministers not present during the debate on the Budget and this government has no interested in debating the Budget. Criticising the ministers’ absence, Deputy Leader of Opposition R Ashok said majority of ministers, instead of attending the Assembly session, have gone to campaign for Congress candidates contesting from Gundlupet and Nanjangud. “It will be better if we organize the Assembly session at Nanjangud,’’ Ashok said.
At this juncture, Minister for Agriculture Krishna Byregowda entered the House. The Leader of the Opposition has demanded Speaker K B Koliwad read the list of ministers absent from the House.
Succumbing to the pressure from the Opposition Leader, Speaker Koliwad said the ministers who have to be present in the House are R V Deshpande, H C Mahadevappa, K J George, D K Shivakumar, Basavaraja Raya Reddy, Mallikarjun. “Amon the ministers who are absent, Minister D K Shivakumar has availed permission from me,’’ the Speaker said.
The Speaker has cancelled the Question Hour. BJP legislators Bopaiah, C T Ravi, Visvesvara Hegde Kageri, and JD(S) legislator Y S V Datta had objected the cancellation of the Question Hour. The Speaker said the Question Hour was cancelled to facilitate more members participate in the debate on the State Budget. “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will reply on the State Budget tomorrow and not today. So, I have cancelled the Question Hour,’’ the Speaker said.
Meanwhile, Jagadish Shettar said the Speaker can take up the Question Hour tomorrow evening. The Speaker said that he would allow members to ask 30 questions on Tuesday. “We will ensure Question Hour tomorrow. We will continue the session even in the night,’’ the Speaker said.
