In sharp contrast to repeated claims of successive governments that legislature session in Belagavi is aimed at focussing its debate on development and progress of the hitherto neglected north Karnataka, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Kagodu Thimmappa said here on Friday that legislature sessions could not be region specific.
Conducting legislative business was a constitutional responsibility of the government, where the members focus their debates on development and progress of the entire State. However, discussions were allowed whenever legislators drew attention towards issues and problems concerning their region, he said.
Mr. Thimmappa was here to review preparations and security arrangements for the 10-day monsoon session of the legislature at the Suvarana Soudha, along with senior officials of the Secretariat, district administration and the Police Department. He said it was for the government to consider the request on conducting the monsoon session for a full month in Belagavi.
Congress government’s chief whip Ashok Pattan was present.
When his attention was drawn towards expenditure on providing accommodation to Ministers and top officials in hotels during legislative sessions in Belagavi, Mr. Thimmappa said the question had be put to the government as it was out of his purview.
Earlier during an interaction with officials, Mr. Thimmappa said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would hold a meeting with legislators of north Karnataka to discuss issues concerning overall development of the region.
