The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Misbehaviour’ of official referred to privileges panel

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Friday, Feb 15, 2008
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Karnataka

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‘Misbehaviour’ of official referred to privileges panel

Special Correspondent

MLCs seek action against Regional Commissioner

Regional Commissioner Amita Prasad allegedly abused Chandru and Limbavali
Council Chairman decides to summon
Chief Secretary

BANGALORE: Legislative Council Chairman B. K. Chandrashekar has referred to the Privileges Committee the issue of alleged misbehaviour by Belgaum Regional Commissioner Amita Prasad with “Mukhyamantri” Chandru and Aravind Limbavali, BJP MLCs, at the Belgaum airport on Sunday last.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, Prof. Chandrashekar said he would summon Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao and direct him to order an inquiry. “I regret and condemn the insult meted out to members of the Upper House,” he said.

Mr. Chandru claimed that several persons, including filmmaker Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar, were witness to the incident.

Narrating the incident, Mr. Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar criticised the “autocratic” behaviour of the officer. Both MLCs submitted memorandum to Prof. Chandrashekar and demanded action against the Regional Commissioner.

The Chairman demanded revocation of the suspension of Article 194. It had been suspended following imposition of President’s Rule in the State.

The Article refers to the privileges enjoyed by legislators. Due to imposition of President’s Rule, there had been no protection to legislators and they had been deprived of privileges, he said.

Earlier, Mr. Chandru and Mr. Limbavali criticised the Regional Commissioner for abusing and insulting them for having snacks at the VIP lounge of the Belgaum airport on their return from Bagalkot. “As we are diabetics, we were having our breakfast at the lounge. The Regional Commissioner, who came to the airport to board a flight, shouted at us and asked us to get out of the lounge. She also threatened the airport staff for letting us inside the lounge,” they alleged.

Both leaders termed it as an insult to Kannadigas by the Regional Commissioner, who hails from Bihar. They demanded an apology from the officer and said they would submit a letter to the Chief Secretary demanding action against her.

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