Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman expresses displeasure over absent ministers
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti on Tuesday briefly adjourned the House, expressing displeasure over the absence of Ministers and ruling party members post lunch break.
The development comes a day after Assembly Speaker U T Khader adjourned the House and walked out in protest, over the lack of written replies from government departments to questions raised by MLAs.
The "unprecedented" move by the Speaker had caused huge embarrassment to the Congress government, forcing the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to issue directives to Ministers and bureaucrats, including suspending errant officials.
When the council resumed after lunch, Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy pointed toward the empty treasury benches and suggested that ruling party members seemed to have "boycotted" the proceedings.
Only Minister of School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa and Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed were in attendance.
The Chairman asked, "Ministers are not here; what should I do?"
Raising objection to empty treasury benches, Opposition Chief Whip N Ravikumar said, "If we have to speak on any issues, who should we tell? Who is there among Ministers? Where is the government?"
Following this, Horatti adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
When the House resumed, a couple of Ministers -- Ramalinga Reddy, Santosh Lad arrived, but the treasury benches by and large remained sparse as most of the ruling Congress MLCs were absent.
The Chairman asked the Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed, "If there are no members and Ministers on the treasury bench side, what is it? How should the House be run? If you don't want, I will adjourn the House for tomorrow. What other work is there during the session? If there are no members and the seats are empty, how can the House run?"
When Horatti asked the Chief Whip about the MLCs, Ahmed replied, "They will be coming."
Pointing out that MLCs were not present, despite the House resuming late post lunch, the Chairman said, "What should we do? Shall I adjourn the House for tomorrow? What do you mean that they will be coming? I don't like it."
Ravikumar attacked the ruling Congress, asking, "Before whom should we raise the issues?"
When the Chairman expressed his willingness to adjourn the House till Wednesday morning, Ravikumar said the opposition BJP was ready to participate in the proceedings, provided the treasury benches show equal cooperation.
Defending the ruling party members, Congress MLC Ramesh Babu said there was some delay in the return of his party colleagues, who had gone for lunch.
As a couple of Ministers and ruling party MLCs started trickling in, the Chairman called BJP MLC A H Vishwanth to speak on the Budget.
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Kannadigas Help Line aids stranded migrants in UAE amid war crisis
Dubai: ‘Kannadigas Help Line’ has stepped up its efforts in the UAE to assist Kannadigas affected by the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, by helping stranded individuals return home and providing food and shelter to those in distress.
The initiative, which was earlier formed to support Kannadigas during the Covid pandemic and floods, has resumed its activities to address the current crisis. Under the leadership of NRI entrepreneur Dr Ronald Colaco and coordination of Hidayath Addoor, the team has brought together more than 30 Kannada organisations in the UAE to extend support to affected individuals.
The team has been assisting stranded migrants, including those who are ill or without food and shelter, by visiting them and offering necessary help. Their efforts have been appreciated by the NRI community.
Speaking to the media, coordinator Hidayath Addoor said that more than 630 people who were unable to return to India were provided with flight arrangements and safely sent back home. He added that Dr Ronald Colaco had assured full financial support for arranging a chartered flight with 180 seats to evacuate elderly persons, pregnant women and those in need of urgent assistance.
He also said that Colaco extended financial help for medical treatment, including surgery for a stranded individual, and supported food arrangements for those in need. Medicines for 22 patients referred by the Indian Consulate were also provided using funds contributed by Colaco.
Arrangements were made to provide free food and accommodation for more than 235 people at hotels owned by Praveen Shetty and Isaq Haji in Dubai, and at a farmhouse owned by Dheeraj Jain in Ajman. Medical assistance was provided to 71 people through doctors at Rashid Hospital in Dubai, while 32 individuals were given medicines.
At the initial stage of the crisis, food was distributed to around 1,180 people, and 70 food kits were also provided. Transport arrangements were made to help affected individuals reach airports in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi.
Several organisations joined hands with Kannadigas Help Line in this effort, including KNRI Forum UAE, Beary’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) UAE, Karnataka Sangha Dubai, Kannadigara Koota Dubai, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, Dubai Non-Resident Kannadigas, Hemmeya Dubai Kannada Sangha, Okkaliga Sangha Dubai, Kannada Paathashaala Dubai, Sharjah Karnataka Sangha, Dubai Konkanis, BCF, KCF, Manki Community, SKSSF Vikhaya UAE, Noorul Huda UAE Committee, Dubai Beary’s, Badriya Friends, Hidaya Foundation, Shamsul Ulama Thodar, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah Karnataka Sangha, Aim India Foundation, Darunnur, Gulf Karnataka Kutumba, Gulf Gelathiyaru, Mangalore Konkanis Dubai, Al Khamar Trust Mooluru, Okkaliga Sangha UAE and Rock Karnataka Sangha UAE.
In recognition of the team’s efforts, Dr Ronald Colaco hosted an Iftar gathering at his residence and appreciated the selfless service of the members along with their families.
He said that the spirit of unity and cooperation shown during the crisis should continue beyond difficult times and serve as a model for the future. He also called for celebrating national and state festivals together in the same spirit.
Colaco expressed hope that the message of unity demonstrated by the team, which worked beyond differences of region, language, class, caste and religion, would reach the homeland and help promote harmony and inclusive development.
On the occasion, Dr Ronald Colaco, Praveen Shetty, Isaq Haji, Dheeraj Jain and Madhav Kiran were honoured with mementos for their support to the initiative.
