BELAGAVI: The 10-day winter session of the State Legislature, which ended on Saturday, has raised some hopes of bringing back meaningful debates on burning issues in the state. There were apprehensions that the session that started on November 21 would be yet another washout over the controversial porngate targeting Primary Education Minister Tanveer Sait or the recent murders of RSS workers.
Earlier, there were many occasions where the session was adjourned much ahead of schedule with both ruling and opposition parties locking horns on many issues. But this session was a pleasant surprise to many, including the elected members, as core issues like the Mahadayi water dispute and the drought situation were discussed. The House also passed a resolution urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and resolve the Mahadayi dispute. Though there were some protests, they did not kill the whole day’s proceedings.
The opposition had pressed for loan waiver. But the government turned the tables on the Centre and BJP stating that they would go for loan waiver if the Centre waived 50 per cent of the loans.
Though more than 11 bills were tabled, only legislations like making registration compulsory of AYUSH doctors to crack down on quackery and others were passed by both Houses.
The House also witnessed a lengthy debate on enhancing reservation from 50 to 70 per cent based on the population of Dalits and backward classes. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement to table the caste census survey on socio-economic and educational status of SC/STs and OBCs gave ample scope to make the government’s motives clear on reservation.
However, the opposition cornered the government on I-T raids on a few top officers allegedly close to a politician in power in the government. It forced the government to state that the officers were already suspended.
The opposition criticised the government on increased attacks on RSS workers and alleged that the Home Ministry was handled by the Chief Minister, Home Minister and a ‘super cop’ Home Minister.
But the Opposition could not gain much over the Tanveer Sait issue despite staging a protest demanding his resignation on the last day of the session. The government maintained that the issue was being probed by the COD and there was no point in demanding Sait’s resignation.
Women, landless labourers and sugar cane growers who had turned up in large numbers to protest outside the Suvarana Vidhana Soudha were not heard by the netas. But Sugar Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad managed to call on cane growers and held talks.
While opposition members termed the session a failure as the government failed to waive loans, announce compensation and address the problems of the region, the government claimed it was a success as core issues were discussed.