Ministers do not reply to letters, rues Speaker

“When ministers are not responding to letters written by me, will they respond to the letters written by legislators,” Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa sought to know during the concluding day of an orientation programme for new legislators in Bangalore on Saturday.

It all started when former chairman of Legislative Council B K Chandrashekar was delivering a lecture on the role of legislators during drawing legislation, when several legislators pointed out that ministers were not responding to letters written by them. They said it was the responsibility and duty of ministers to immediately respond to the letters of elected representatives.

Coming to their rescue, Thimmappa said, “Even my letters don’t get a reply... I can understand your plight.”

In his address, Chandrashekar said people in public life should act responsibly by discharging their duties effectively. Local authorities should also act responsibly and address civic problems. But the same was not happening and people were approaching legislators to address problems related to bad roads, water and drainage, he pointed out.

He also rued the lack of discussion before passing bills. As many as 22 bills during the BJP regime had been passed sans debate, he pointed out.