Bangalore: Opposition leader, H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday said he would advise his party MLAs not to go on the foreign tour.
"At a time when the central team has visited the state and the state in turn, has asked for funds to mitigate the crisis, the situation is not appropriate for a foreign tour of legislators which would burden the state exchequer further," Kumaraswamy said.
Surprisingly, it was during the JD (S)-BJP coalition government’s tenure in 2006-07 that the rules were amended to permit such tours. Till then, the legislators were entitled to go on five tours inside the country. The rule was amended to facilitate two foreign tours and another one inside the country.
Kumaraswamy was speaking to reporters after he met agitating teachers who were on strike demanding that the government bring the schools where they were serving, under the grant in aid scheme. Three teachers had tried to consume poison and end their lives on Thursday, however, they were rushed to hospital and were out of danger.
"The government needs only Rs 20 crore to extend grant-in-aid to over 1700 educational institutes. Let the government suspend foreign tours of legislators and extend the same funds to resolve the teachers' crisis," Kumaraswamy said.
He said he would personally call on all legislators and persuade them to drop the tour programme.
"If they want to go, let them spend money from their pocket" .
Day after CM’s support, Dr G backs legislators going on foreign jaunt
Bangalore: KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar said there was nothing wrong in MLAs going on a study tour to foreign countries, but the question arises whether they can do this when the state is facing a severe drought.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Dr Parameshwar said the party has started the process of appointing Chairpersons to the Boards and Corporations. The party has already appointed Chairpersons to district and taluk level boards and corporations, chairpersons and members of PLD banks, local area development corporations, boards of CMCs, TMCs.
To appoint chairpersons to state level Boards and Corporations, the party had received eight thousand applications. After scrutinize these applications, government will appoint the chairpersons, he said.
The KPCC chief refused to answer a question about cabinet expansion. "I cannot answer questions on this subject", he replied.
