Ruckus in Karnataka Assembly over Congress heading guarantee scheme panels
What's the story
The Karnataka Assembly was disrupted on Tuesday by protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) against the appointment of Congress leaders and workers to the state, district, and taluk-level committees.
The committees have been formed to oversee the implementation of five pre-poll guarantee schemes.
On Wednesday, they continued their protest outside Vidhana Soudha.
The opposition accused the government of curtailing the powers of the legislators by appointing party workers as presidents, vice-presidents, and members.
Discontent
Opposition protests against committee appointments
The opposition protested from the well of the House, demanding the cancelation of these committees.
If such committees are needed for the implementation of schemes, they said, they should be headed by MLAs, not Congress workers.
This came despite Deputy CM D K Shivakumar assuring that the cabinet would consider the demand.
Among the issues raised are the government's decision to extend the facilities of cabinet minister and minister of state to the president and vice-presidents of the state-level committee.
Compensation
Salary structure of the appointed committee members
Opposition parties have slammed the government's decision to pay ₹40,000 and ₹25,000 monthly honorarium to district and taluk-level committee presidents, respectively.
District committee vice-presidents will get ₹10,000 monthly, while members will be paid a sitting fee of ₹1,100 and ₹1,000 for district and taluk level committees, respectively.
The state-level committee will have a president, five vice presidents, and 31 members.
Queries
Opposition questions government's decision to appoint Congress workers
During Question Hour, JD(S) MLA Krishnappa M P protested the government's decision to appoint Congress workers to the implementation committee.
"Are there no Legislators and officials?... can the state exchequer amount be given to Congress workers like this?"
BJP MLA Sunil Kumar also slammed the move, questioning why Congress workers in guarantee implementation committees are being paid high salaries when the government hesitates to raise wages for Anganwadi and Asha workers.
Defense
Shivakumar defends appointment of Congress workers
Defending the government's decision in response to the accusations, Shivakumar said, "it is the will of the government. The party workers who brought this government to power have the right to implement the programs of this government."
As chaos erupted over the comments, Speaker U T Khader temporarily adjourned the House.
When it resumed, Krishnappa reiterated that MLAs oversee scheme implementation in their segments, and the formation of these committees by ignoring legislators is illegal.
Assurance
Congress government to continue guarantee schemes
Shivakumar accused the opposition, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of opposing the guarantee schemes.
He asserted that as long as this Congress government remains in power, it is impossible to stop these guarantee schemes.
"The rights and powers of the legislators will not be curtailed at any cost," he said.
Ashoka warned that the opposition will obstruct the passage of the finance bill and urged the government to "cancel these committees."