Karnataka MLAs want club at Carlton, not elsewhere
Bengaluru: A confrontation is building over the Carlton House issue with legislators reportedly deciding to stick to their stance for setting up the Constitution Club at the premises of the historic building, which now houses the CID office.
On March 28, a Committee appointed by Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa had visited the Bharat Scouts and Guide office, adjacent to the high court chief justice’s residence but felt the Scouts and Guides office was not a place suitable for the club.
After this visit, the committee requested the Speaker to convene a meeting of the Chief Minister and Home Minister on taking possession of Carlton House for the Constitution Club.
But police officials, who are part of the CID office, are reluctant to vacate the place. They wonder how a heritage building can be given to run a club. The legislators on the other hand, argue that Carlton House was used as the Legislators Home in the early 1950s, so it could be the right place to set up the Constitution Club, where legislators could meet.
Senior legislators argued before officials that when the CID can use the heritage building to interrogate criminals, why can’t Carlton House house the Constitution Club?
“We inspected the Bharat Scouts and Guides office last week, it is not an ideal location for the club. So, we have suggested that the Speaker and Chief Minister take a final call in this regard”, said former minister C.T. Ravi, promotional director of the club. When contacted, Speaker, Kagodu Thimmappa said that he would convene a meeting next month to find a solution to the issue.