Bangalore: BJP gave tablets to MLAs, now Siddu offers laptops
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 21: If the previous BJP regime gave high-end tablets to all the State’s legislators, the present Siddaramaiah-led Congress regime has now decided to give laptops to all the 225 MLAs.
Obviously, both the BJP and Congress governments of Karnataka seem to be bent upon making the State’s legislators tech-savvy whether it is the tablets or laptops. Of course, does it really matter whether the legislators make use of the gadgets or not that are considered essential for all modern professionals.
Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa said all members have been asked to purchase laptops worth Rs 60,000 each.
Members have been given the option to buy any brand and size of laptops. But they have been told to give receipts of the purchase.
Total Cost of Laptops Rs 1.35 crore
Gifting of laptops would cost the State exchequer of Rs 1.35 crore.
The previous BJP government has given tablets to each member of the Lower House. The cost of each tablet was Rs 45,000.
Asked about the necessity of providing laptops to legislators, Thimmappa said a majority of the MLAs have been using gadgets to update their knowledge. Evidently, this is a justifiable expenditure, he claimed.
While some members would utilise laptops and some others watch television. "In the change circumstance, it is necessary to provide laptops to members," he asserted.
He said State Governor H R Bhardwaj would address the joint session of the state legislature on Wednesday at 12 noon. The session would be held for seven days from January 22 to 30.
'Foreign Tours Temporarily Suspended'
On the much criticized foreign tour by the State’s legislators, the Speaker said a committee comprising of officials of both houses of State Legislature has been constituted to formulate guidelines for foreign tours of the legislators.
However, tours of various legislature committees have been temporarily suspended. ''We will take a decision on the issue after studying the report of the committee, he said.
He said the Assembly secretariat has accepted 630 questions and of them 45 starred and 585 unstarred.
Decision on HDK Status in Assembly
Meanwhile, Thimmappa said he will make a statement in the House on the status of the main opposition party after studying all issues following the induction of four KJP MLAs under the leadership of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa into the BJP.
The four MLAs of KJP joined the BJP and the BJP too approved their entry into the party, he said.
"After studying all issues, I will announce my decision on the status of the main opposition party in the House after the Governor’s address on Wednesday," the Speaker said.
Both BJP and JD(S) have 40 seats each in the State Assembly but JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy was declared as the Opposition leader on the basis of the higher total percentage of votes secured by his party as compared to BJP.
On the status to two KJP MLAs B R Patil and Guru Patil, Thimmappa said they would remain in the KJP by virtue of the fact more four of the six KJP MLAs had decided to join BJP.