Bengaluru: Irked over the absence of Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav, a MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) Parliamentary Committee headed by Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha M. Thambidurai reportedly boycotted a meeting on Friday. The meeting was supposed to be held in Vidhana Soudha and was to be presided over by Mr Jadhav. The committee, comprising Lok Sabha members from various states including Congress Floor Leader Mallikarjun Kharge, reached the venue well in advance. However, they were aghast to see that Mr Jadhav was absent and are said to have waited for some time. When there was no sign of the chief secretary, the MPs headed by Mr Thambidurai and Mr Kharge left Vidhana Soudha. Having learnt about this, the CS reportedly went and met Mr Kharge who was on his way back to a private hotel, and requested him to return. But, Mr Kharge refused and left Vidhana Soudha.
Confirming this incident, former Union minister Mr K.H. Muniyappa said the committee had informed the state government and the chief secretary well in advance regarding the committee's visit to Bengaluru in connection with the MPLAD meeting. “I, along with Belagavi MP Prakash Hukkeri reached the venue and found no officer there. So, we came back. I did not know whether Mr Kharge and others boycotted the meeting. What I came to know was that the meeting has been postponed. If Mr Jadhav was not present at the meeting before the arrival of the committee, it will be brought to the notice of CM Siddaramaiah,” he added.
Sources said Mr Kharge was upset with the attitude of the bureaucracy and declined to attend the meeting despite repeated requests by officials.
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