Mysuru: Expressing concern that industrialists are replacing subject experts in the Legislature, Karnataka Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader wondered what would happen to the debates in the Upper and Lower Houses of the Legislature in the next 10 years if this trend continued.
He was speaking at an interaction meet organised by Mysuru District Journalists Association (MDJA) at its premises on Thyagaraja Road here yesterday.
Pointing out that the Houses used to see good subject-based debates on various issues in the past, Khader underlined the role of the media on giving prominence to subject based debates and discussions rather than political issues. Bemoaning that recently, debates are going on statements by Political leaders more than on issues bothering the State, he said that this is not a good development concerning the Legislature.
“The Assembly Speaker should function as a friend of the Opposition. On the other hand, the ruling dispensation too should have the resolve to positively accept constructive criticisms by Opposition parties. However, the Speaker should also side with the Government sometimes, depending upon the situation. The Legislature demands such a scenario to pass Bills in a fixed time or otherwise, this will affect the functioning of the Government,” he argued.
Continuing, he said: “In the past, the Legislature used to witness good and purposeful debates because there were many subject experts in the Legislature then. But now, the situation has changed completely, with Businessmen, Entrepreneurs and Industrialists entering the Houses. With their entry, the Houses depart from traditional discussions and pave the way for discussing issues concerning Industrialists and Businessmen.”
He expressed concern about the functioning of the Houses and the debates and discussions that would take place in the Legislature in the next few years.
Replying to a question on Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar Vs BJP MLC C.T. Ravi row that erupted during last month’s Belagavi Legislature Session, with Ravi reportedly making insulting and abusive remarks against the Minister, Khader defended the Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti’s decision, saying he was supportive of the Chairman, who is competent enough to handle the row in an appropriate manner.
Bengaluru Press Club award recipient Dayashankar Maili, KUWJ (Karnataka Union of Working Journalists) Annual Endowment award recipients K.P. Nagaraj, P. Shilpa, Guruprasad Tumbasoge, Nazeer Ahmed, Shivakumar V. Rao and C.J. Puneeth were felicitated on the occasion.
MDJA President K. Deepak, Vice-President Ravi Pandavapura, Gen. Secretary Dharmapura Narayan, Secretary Krishnojirao and others were present.
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