From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 13: Rattled by the persistent questions from the media over the whopping estimated expenditure of Rs 26.87 crore for the proposed two-day special session of Karnataka legislative assembly to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Vidhana Soudha on October 25, Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad told the media to ask the Chief Minister for details.
"Media is interested only in controversy," was the cryptic reply given by Koliwad when reporters asked him about the massive expenditure of Rs 26.87 crore for a two-day special session of the State Legislature, which is to be addressed by President Ram Nath Kovind.
The State legislature secretariat has decided to spend a whopping Rs 26.87 crore for holding the two-day special session of the State Legislature on October 25 and 26.
An obviously irritated Speaker curtly retorted: "If you want details, you ask the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister has approved it. You should not ask all such details from the Speaker."
"The Chief Minister is head of the Government and he will go through the details. If all things are okay, the Finance Department will approve it or reject it," Koliwad said.
He, however, made it clear that there were no differences between the State legislature secretariat and the Government or the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra.
The Speaker said the media has wrongly reported on the matter.
Jayachandra and Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy attended a meeting on Thursday.
The Speaker stoutly defended the expenses to be incurred on the two-day programme and claimed that the Legislature Secretary prepared the list of 17 items and Rs 26.87 crore expenses will be incurred.
"I cannot go to each (Minister’s) one’s house and give details of the expenditure," he said.
Asked about a charge about huge amount required for the event when just Rs 2 crore was spent for construction of the Vidhana Soudha and 15 crore for 10-Day Dasara festival in Mysuru, Koliwad said "if allegations are true, we will do introspection about it."