Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, May 25: Newly-elected Karnataka assembly speaker U T Khader was accorded a grand welcome at Circuit House by his supporters on Thursday May 25. This was his first visit to Mangaluru after taking charge as the speaker of Karnataka assembly.
Addressing media, he said, “I thank chief minister Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, leaders Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala for appointing me as the speaker of the Karnataka assembly. I have become the MLA of Mangaluru constituency for the fifth time with the support of public in Mangaluru. Meanwhile, I would like to remember senior leaders Janardhana Poojary, Veerappa Moily and the late Oscar Fernandes.
“Even though I have been appointed as the speaker, the rapport with the public in my constituency will remain the same. I will work for the overall development of Mangaluru. I have been given one of the most honourable and respectable positions. I will work sincerely as the speaker of the assembly and ensure that dignity and respect of the house is held high.
“I will also make sure that everyone will work together in the assembly without any hatred but with love and peace,” he said.
When asked about his supporters being disappointed with the speaker’s position as they were expecting for him a ministerial one, Khader said, “The speaker’s job is an honourable position. I have been a minister many a times. My supporters are aware about a minister’s role but they are unaware about the position of a speaker. I assure that I will work for the people and serve them as an MLA of Mangaluru. I will create an atmosphere where public will be happy with my position.”
Over the talk that he was offered the speaker’s position in spite of many other seniors in the assembly, Khader said, “I may be a junior in my age, but in experience, I am a senior. I will learn a lot as a speaker. When I was a minister, I had to look only one department, but now I have the responsibility of 32 departments. As a speaker, I will get to learn many things which will shape up my personality. I will make the best utilisation of the opportunity I have received.”
He also said, “There are 70 new MLAs. We will take up a three-day training camp about the process of the activities in the assembly. I will also give opportunities to young MLAs in the assembly as they will have innovative ideas and there is more possibility of getting good information that we can work upon.”