Ministers' absence in Karnataka Assembly irk BJP members

Bengaluru: Opposition parties in Karnataka Assembly today attacked the government over 'empty' Treasury benches and sought summoning of a Minister who they said was busy campaigning for the April 9 assembly by-elections.

As the House met for the day, BJP members pointed to the 'empty' treasury benches and raised the issue of Ministers being absent and demanded that the Speaker read out the list of Ministers who were to be present.

Expressing his displeasure, Speaker K B Koliwad read out the list of Ministers who were to be present during the Question House and for other business.

Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar (BJP) said the government was not interested in running the House.

The issue came up again during the question hour when BJP MLA C T Ravi refused to accept an answer to his question from Law Minister T B Jayachandra, who was representing Public Works Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa.

Ravi said he would accept answer only from the Minister concerned and demanded his presence.

Jayachandra said the Minister had taken the Chair's permission, following which BJP members sought to know the reason cited by Mahadevappa for his absence.

Koliwad said the Minister in his letter had cited a visit to Mysuru for an emergency work.

Rejecting the reason, BJP members said he was campaigning for Congress candidates in Gundlupet and Nanjangud by-polls.

The Minister's primary responsibility was to the Assembly and not party work related by-polls, they said.

He has not been attending the House from the beginning of the session and can been seen on TV campaigning for Congress candidates every day, they said.

"Summon the Minister to the House...if our statements about Minister campaigning for by-polls is not true, search for him, inform the police department," Ravi said.

Shettar expressed his anguish by questioning whether the government was "dead or alive."

The Speaker then said he will ask the Minister to be present in the House on Monday and Tuesday.

JD(S) member YSV Datta said, "Let’s not make a mockery of the Question Hour and the House. If Ministers are not present, let’s not have the Question Hour, let them finish their by-election and come."