The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Officials shouldn’t attend meetings called by Opposition leaders: Katta

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Tuesday, Jun 30, 2009
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Officials shouldn’t attend meetings called by Opposition leaders: Katta

Special Correspondent

He says officers should abide by the circular issued by Chief Secretary

We’ll not let down officials, says Minister
Opposition leaders have no right to call such meets: MP

Katta Subramanya Naidu

BANGALORE: Minister for Information and Publicity Katta Subramanya Naidu has cautioned government officers against attending meetings convened by Leaders of the Opposition in the State Legislature.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, Mr. Naidu said government officials in the State were duty bound to abide by the circular issued by Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao on June 25 in this regard, and said it would be “illegal” for the officials to attend meetings convened by leaders of the Opposition.

However, he refused to be drawn into a debate on the propriety of the Leaders of the Opposition convening such meetings.

“I will not make any comment on their right or the absence of it to convene meetings of government officials,” he said.

Mr. Naidu also sought to reassure the officials that the government would protect them from any form of reprisal or retaliation by the Opposition leaders. The Government would stand by the officials in the event of the Opposition moving a privilege motion against them, Mr. Naidu promised.

BJP MP for Bangalore North, D.B. Chandre Gowda said the Opposition leaders had no right to convene meetings of officials.

He said the Opposition leaders would suffer a “loss of face” if they convened a meeting and the officials stayed away from it. “It is the Government which is answerable in the legislature and not the Opposition,” Mr. Gowda said.

He pointed out that the Opposition leaders are not sworn to secrecy as the Ministers in the government are. However, they can secure details from government officials informally, he said.

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