The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Privilege motion sought to be moved against Yediyurappa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 23, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Privilege motion sought to be moved against Yediyurappa

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H.K. Patil on Wednesday sought to move a privilege motion against Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister B.S. Yediyurappa alleging he provided wrong information in the budget speech on March 20 and misled the House.

Mr. Patil quoted from the budget speech of 2005, made by former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and compared it with a paragraph from Mr. Yediyurappa's speech.

Paragraph 143 in Mr. Yediyurappa's speech says: "We have planned to complete 39 major irrigation projects in 2006-07. Apart from the works taken up by the Krishna, Karnataka and Cauvery Neeravari Nigams, we will take up modernisation of Bhadra and Tungabhadra projects. The Kalasa-Banduri Scheme has remained unimplemented for many years, and our Government is committed to take it up. The total allocation for irrigation in 2006-07 is Rs. 2,972 crores. In 2005-06, the amount was Rs. 2,068 crores. The allocation for irrigation has increased by 44 per cent."

However, Mr. Patil said the relevant paragraph in Mr. Siddaramaiah's speech said: "The plan outlay for irrigation has been increased from Rs. 3,024 crores in 2004-05 to Rs. 3,942 crores in 2005-06. In another paragraph, Mr. Yediyurappa's budget allocates Rs. 2,354 crores for rural development over the previous year's Rs. 2,002 crores. However, in Mr. Siddaramaiah's budget, the outlay increased from the previous year's Rs. 960 crores to Rs. 2,500 crores. Mr. Patil said this amounted to breach of privilege. Chairman V.R. Sudarshan disagreed, and said there are other means to rectify any error that might have occurred.

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