No MLA has quit panel to discipline media, says Speaker

Legislative Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad has said that none of the BJP MLAs or minister Ramesh Kumar have resigned from the joint legislature committee set up to frame regulations for the media.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, Koliwad said, “You (media) may say that the BJP members and the minister are not ready to be part of the panel. But they have not sent their resignation to me. The committee was constituted by the Assembly. And, if it has to be dissolved or changes effected, it should be done on the floor of the House.”

To a question, he said: “It is my prerogative to form a House committee. I need not take consent from anyone.” This he said when a reporter pointed out that Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar had said that he was not consulted before the formation of the panel.

Koliwad also said the committee was set up on the request by many MLAs. It has been constituted with a ‘good intention’ and not to control the media, he said.
To another question, he said, “Ramesh Kumar has not submitted his resignation as the chairman of the committee. He has given some suggestions. Those will be considered. I will invite media representatives for a talk.”

Ramesh Kumar on Thursday said he will not be a party to any move to rein in the media by enacting legislation.

“I don’t want to be a party to any move to control the media either through legislation or any other way...But I am ready to hold talks with the media houses to resolve the issue,” he told reporters who sought his reaction on being appointed chairman of the state legislature committee set up to come out with measures to rein in the media.