Bengaluru: Bowing to public outcry and criticism in the media, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday nixed the proposal of legislature secretariat to gift gold biscuits to Members of Legislative Assembly and Members of Legislative Council in the state as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations of Vidhana Soudha.
Expressing his displeasure over the proposal, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said there is no need for presenting any expensive mementos for the legislators as part of the two-day celebrations scheduled to be held on October 25 and 26.
Conveying his opinion to Chairman of Legislative Council DH Shankaramurthy and Speaker of Legislative Assembly KB Koliwad who called on him, Siddaramaiah also expressed his inability to grant Rs 26 crore, for the event. He asked the duo to limit the expenditure for the event to Rs 10 crore.
He also asked the two presiding officers of the legislature to limit the celebrations to a one-day affair instead of two.
According to the earlier proposal submitted by the legislature secretariat to the state government, each of the 300 legislators were to be presented with a memento of a gold biscuit costing Rs 50,000 each while the secretariat officers were to presented with a silver plate. The chief minister has now rejected the proposal on presenting costly mementos and also cut down on expenditure on the hospitality for the guests.
KPCC oppose proposal
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dr. G. Parameshwara said Congress opposes the proposal to present legislators with expensive gifts to the legislators.
“I have already made our stand clear. The state has been reeling under severe drought for the last four years. The state has received substantial rain this year. We do not want to spend huge amount on the diamond jubilee celebrations,’’ Parameshwara said.
