The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Shettar favours training for first-time members

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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Shettar favours training for first-time members

Special Correspondent

Ensure trivial things don’t mask serious debates, media told

There are 90
first-time MLAs
in this House
Accepted the post on my own: Shettar

BANGALORE: Soon after assuming office, newly elected Speaker Jagadish Shettar made it clear that he will take steps to provide training in legislature proceedings to first-time MLAs.

His statement came in the wake of the State Assembly having 90 first-time MLAs. Just before he announced the training programme, there were some minor violations of legislature norms by the newcomers. This included changing the allotted seats and addressing the House from others’ seats. In fact, Leader of the Opposition M. Mallikarjun Kharge was annoyed when a new MLA started speaking from a seat which had not been allotted to him.

When that legislator did not realise his mistake, the Congress leader remarked: “You must know this is not a public function where you can do whatever you want.”

Mr. Shettar took exception to the absence of some MLAs and said: “we have been elected by people to attend the session and not to abstain from it.”

He expressed concern over the habit of some legislators leaving the House soon after the completion of discussion on issues concerning their constituencies.

“It is not enough if you participate in the issues concerning you. But you should also be part of the discussion on issues concerning others.”

The new Speaker had a word of advice for the media also.

He asked it to desist from giving importance to issues like dharnas and demonstrations staged by some members to get publicity.

“Ensure that trivial things do not mask serious debates and issues,” he said.

Mr. Shettar, who was initially reluctant to accept the Speaker’s post as he had then thought that it might come in the wake of his efforts to bring about development in the Hubli-Dharwad region, clarified that he had accepted the post on his own.

He said he would leave the issue of development to the Chief Minister and the Opposition leader.

Pointing out that the difference between the numerical strength of the ruling and the Opposition benches was only wafer thin, he asked the members to desist from getting emotional while participating in debates.

“We never had this kind of a strong Opposition in the recent years,” he observed.

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