Date:10/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/10/stories/2007021007990400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Prakash apologises for officials' absence in House

Staff Reporter

M.P. Prakash

Bangalore: Home Minister M.P. Prakash on Friday apologised to the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly for senior officials not being present in the gallery provided for them in the House.

When the former Minister Jayaprakash Hegde (independent) was speaking on the drought situation, J.C. Madhuswamy (JD-U) and G.V. Srirama Reddy (CPI-M) protested against the absence of officials.

Mr. Madhuswamy also complained to Speaker Krishna that of late, even Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had been ignoring the House. In the eight days of the ongoing session, the Chief Minister had come to the House once and spoke for 15 minutes on the Cauvery dispute. Many Ministers were also absent and that was why officials were not serious about the proceedings.

The former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah raised the matter in the House on Thursday.

Expressing his helplessness, the Speaker directed the Government to pull up the officials for their absence.

Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar's attempt to pacify the members went in vain.

Sensing the mood of the members, Mr. Prakash stood up and apologised profusely and promised that he would write to the Chief Secretary to pull up the officers for their lapse.