Stage set for joint session of Karnataka legislature, amid Hijab row in the state
Bengaluru(PTI): The joint session of the Karnataka Legislature that will begin from Monday is likely to be rocked by the ongoing Hijab row and related law and order situation in the state, allegations of kickbacks by contractors association and Mekedatu project implementation issue, among others.
The 10-day session that will go on till February 25, will begin with Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot addressing the joint sitting of members of both Legislative Assembly and the Council on the first day.
This will be Gehlot's first address to the joint session, after taking over as the Governor in July, last year.
Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri on Saturday said that after several years, the Governor will take the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha to enter the legislative assembly chamber, the venue of the joint session.
The session is expected to be stormy as the principal opposition party, the Congress is likely to corner the government on several issues, including the hijab controversy, and the related law and order situation, with protests in this regard turning violent in some parts.
The Congress is also likely to raise the issue of 40 per cent kickback charges levelled by the Karnataka State Contractors Association against politicians, Ministers and bureaucrats.
The issue relating to Mekedatu project is also likely to come up in the wake of Congress' recent padayatra demanding for its implementation, by violating COVID curbs.
While the Congress is likely to target the government for delay in implementation of the project and getting clearances from the centre, the BJP, which has been accusing the grand old party of trying to politicise the issue is likely to counter it for going ahead with the padayatra in violation of COVID curbs, along with reports of several of its leaders and workers being infected by the virus during the march.
Issues relating to the government's handling of economy, getting funds from the centre, "unilateral" announcement of the river linking project in the union budget, COVID situation, among other issues are also likely to come up for discussion during the session.
Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah has convened a meeting of Congress legislature party on February 14, to discuss the strategy for the session.
The contentious anti-conversion bill that was passed by the Assembly during the winter session in Belagavi in December, is likely to be taken up in the Legislative Council during the session.
Though the bill was introduced in the Council during the winter session, the government did not push for it as it lacked numbers in the upper house. With the ruling BJP now having comfortable numbers, with the support of an independent, after the recent MLC polls from the local authorities constituencies, the bill is likely to be taken up during this session.
This is also the first session for senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad, after he was recently appointed by the party as its leader in the Karnataka Legislative Council.
JD(S) that has been banking on the issues relating to regional pride is likely to target the government on issues relating to the subjects such as alleged lack of funding to Kannada University, jobs for locals, also farmers and irrigation issue among others.
The session has also come at a time when Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is under intense pressure from BJP legislators to expand or rejig the cabinet at the earliest, with assembly election slated in 2023.
According to the Assembly secretariat it has received 2,062 questions, 81 calling attention notices and 31 notices under Rule 351, from legislators.
Speaker Kageri has said his office has received two bills - Karnataka Stamps (Amendment) Bill and Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill- so far for the session.
He also said he will consider allotting two days for a discussion on electoral reforms in the upcoming session.
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Chhattisgarh govt enforces austerity measures, restricts foreign travel and cuts convoy vehicles
Raipur (PTI): The Chhattisgarh government on Saturday rolled out a set of austerity measures, including restricted use of convoy vehicles for the chief minister, ministers and heads of state-run bodies, besides curbs on foreign travel at government expense.
The state has decided to implement the cost-saving steps with immediate effect to ensure efficient management of financial resources and discipline in public spending, said a directive issued by Finance Secretary Rohit Yadav.
The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for austerity amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The order said that only essential vehicles should be used in the convoys of the CM, ministers and office-bearers of corporations, boards and commissions, while ensuring restrained use of other government resources.
It also directed departments to take steps for a phased conversion of all official vehicles into electric vehicles in order to promote the use of EVs.
As part of fuel-saving measures, expenditure on petrol and diesel for government vehicles should be kept to a minimum, the directive said.
Vehicle pooling arrangements should also be implemented for officials of departments travelling to the same destination, it added.
The order further stated that foreign travel of government employees at state expenses will be completely prohibited except under extremely unavoidable circumstances. In such cases, prior approval of the CM will be mandatory.
To reduce administrative expenditure, departments have been instructed to hold physical meetings preferably only once a month and encourage virtual and online meetings. Regular departmental review meetings should compulsorily be conducted through video conferencing, it said.
The government also stressed the need for energy conservation in its offices, directing that all electrical equipment, including lights, fans, air-conditioners and computers, must be switched off after office hours.
The directive will remain effective till September 30 this year.
Amid the war involving the US, Israel and Iran, Modi has suggested reducing petrol and diesel consumption, using metro rail services in cities, carpooling, increased use of EVs, utilising railway services for parcel movement and working from home to conserve foreign exchange.
