BELAGAVI: Amidst rows of empty seats in the Assembly, reflecting the scant regard for the annual session in north Karnataka, members from BJP and Congress on Thursday demanded an exclusive session to discuss issues pertaining to the region, only to draw the ire of Speaker KB Koliwad.
Expressing his displeasure over the poor response of the members over the last four days, especially members from northern Karnataka who continue to abstain from the session, Koliwad termed the demand as ironic. The annual ritual of holding the Belagavi session is set to conclude on Friday and an overwhelming number of MLAs have continued to stay away from the House, while some pay casual visits.
Speaking about the plight of farmers who lost their land to the Almatti project, MLAs Govind Karjol, H Y Meti, J T Patil and Sidhu Nyamagowda demanded a special session to discuss the problems.
Koliwad said, “It is an irony that you people are demanding a special session, but despite listing it as a special debate, only four members have spoken about it. You speak of sugarcane, areca and coconut, but show no interest on maize cultivation, jowar and other crops, cultivated in this part of the region.”
Interestingly of the four was Y S V Datta from southern Karnataka who spoke on behalf of JD(S).