The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Row over Siddaramaiah's `absence'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 01, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Row over Siddaramaiah's `absence'

Special Correspondent

Opposition members express unhappiness at Deputy Chief Minister's late arrival

BANGALORE: The rumblings in the Janata Dal (Secular) and the political moves of the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, became issues for debate in the Legislative Assembly with the Opposition members reading their own meaning into the delay in his arriving in the House.

They sought an explanation from the Government why he had not turned up in the House even by 1 p.m., two hours after the House assembled. The Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, H.K. Patil, said Mr. Siddaramaiah was attending proceedings in the Legislative Council.

As soon as members of the House met after the lunch recess, there was no quorum to begin the proceedings. When the debate on cooperative loans began at 3 p.m., half an hour behind schedule, some Ministers, including Mr. Siddaramaiah, were absent.

Concern

That prompted Vatal Nagaraj (Kannada Chaluvali Paksha), J.C. Madhuswamy (Janata Dal - United) and G.V. Srirama Reddy (Communist Party of India - Marxist) to demand to be told about the whereabouts of Mr. Siddaramaiah. They expressed concern over the delay in the commencement of the proceedings and questioned the Government's seriousness in conducting the session. They wanted to know from the Minister for Industries, P.G.R. Sindhia, the reason for Mr. Siddaramaiah's absence.

"Why has the Deputy Chief Minister not come to the House today? What are the reasons for it? The Ministers M.P. Prakash and Mr. Sindhia, who are members of the Janata Dal (Secular), must explain," Mr. Nagaraj said.

`Implications'

He said Mr. Siddaramaiah is not just the leader of a party; he is the Deputy Chief Minister, holding the Finance portfolio. His absence will have its own implication for the Government. "Are the internal differences in the JD(S) the reason for Mr. Siddaramiah's absence," Mr. Nagaraj asked.

Mr. Reddy and Mr. Madhuswamy said that as the topic of the discussion concerned Mr. Siddaramaiah, he should have informed the House about any delay.

Members thanked

At this juncture, Mr. Siddaramaiah arrived in the House and thanked the members for expressing their concern about him.

"There is nothing to worry about my absence. There is no problem in the Government. Members of the Opposition should not get excited about my absence," Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

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