The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : MLAs advised to maintain decorum

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 24, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

MLAs advised to maintain decorum

Staff Reporter

Member argues with official in Assembly hall

M.P. Prakash

Bangalore: The joint leader of the Janata Dal (S) Legislature Party M.P. Prakash on Thursday urged MLAs, including Renukacharya of the Bharatiya Janata Party, to maintain dignity while speaking to officials within the precincts of the legislature.

The provocation was an incident involving Mr. Renukacharya and a senior IAS officer who was in the officials' gallery immediately after the House was adjourned for ten minutes by the Speaker, Krishna.

While the members were going out of the hall, Mr. Renukacharya, who represents Honnali constituency, got into a heated argument with V.P. Baligar, Principal Secretary for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. The member was seen shouting at the officer and Basavaraj Rayareddy (Congress) was trying to calm him down, without success. Other members also rushed to the spot.

After the House reassembled, Vatal Nagaraj (Vatal Paksha), Mr. Rayareddy, Ramesh Kumar and R.V. Deshpande (all Congress) brought the incident to the notice of the Speaker.

Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar said there was no need for a discussion on the issue. He said no issue should be raised concerning a person who could not defend himself in the House.

Mr. Rayareddy said he heard Mr. Renukacharya asking Mr. Baligar, who is also the Chairman of the Karnataka Land Army Corporation, why he had instructed his officials to submit tenders for a drinking water supply work in his constituency.

Mr. Prakash said if members were against the corporation responding to tender notifications, then they should urge the Government to do amend the law instead of taking it out on officials. If a discussion was allowed, the officer concerned would not be in a position to defend himself. Such incidents should be ignored and members should restrain themselves, he said.

The Speaker ruled that no member should speak to any officer in the gallery without his permission, putting an end to the discussion.

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