Committee to inquire into IPL organisers' remarks

 
The Legislative Council Chairman Veeranna Matikatti on Tuesday decided to refer the  privilege motion to the Privilege Committee of the Council against IPL organisers in Bangalore for allegedly commenting on the proceedings of the House.

The nine-member Privilege Committee headed by K C Kondaiah has quasi-judicial powers to issue summons to the organisers or the KSCA office-bearers and call for records.

After conducting an inquiry, it will make an appropriate recommendation to the House.

It is alleged that the organisers have prima facie breached the Parliamentary privilege by openly commenting on the debates of the House and the legislators in bad taste.

Senior MLCs Mallanagouda Nadagouda and Mukyamantri Chandru had moved the motion in the recently concluded Budget session of the Legislature.

It all began with Nadagouda and Chandru raising the issue of alleged efforts by the IPL organisers to evade tax and illegal sale of liquor during IPL cricket matches at the KSCA stadium. Many other MLCs too spoke on the issue.

Subsequently, the two MLCs moved the privilege motion against the organisers for their  alleged statement that the legislators were angry that they were not given free VIP passes and so they were speaking against the IPL.

The Chairman, however, had kept his decision pending. He sought the opinion of the Privilege Committee as to whether to accept the motion. The Committee, which met on Monday, showed the green signal.

When contacted, Chandru said the Chairman has referred it to the Committee, and it will look into all issues raised by the members. “The organisers have not only breached the privilege of the House, but insulted the State Legislature by making a derogatory remark against the members,” he stated.