North Karnataka MLCs condemn neglect of horticultural varsity in Bagalkot

Bengaluru: Legislators from North Karnataka region on Tuesday raised objections in the Legislative Council over the state government’s decision to hand over affiliated colleges and research centres of University of Horticultural Sciences-Bagalkot to the new integrated University of Agriculture and Horticulture being established in Mandya.

While BJP MLCs Talwar Sabanna and P H Poojar raised the issue, the Chairman of the House Basavaraj Horatti too joined them and questioned the government whether the elected representatives of that region were consulted. “Have you consulted the elected representatives from North Karnataka region?” Horatti asked the Minister for Horticulture S S Mallikarjun.

Sabanna brought it to the notice of the House that there was an impression among the people of Bagalkot district that the university was being closed down.

“The government had issued an order to shift the research centres and affiliated colleges of the horticulture university to new university set to come up in Mandya. I would like to ask the minister, did the government followed the same while establishing Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences or any other universities?” the senior legislator asked.

Poojar informed the House about the popularity of the university and how farmers were benefited from it.

Replying to them, Mallikarjun stated that the decision to establish an Integrated University at Mandya was taken in the Cabinet following the pressure from elected representatives of Mandya region. Disappointed by the minister’s statement, the Chairman of the house slammed him and said, “If there was demand from Mandya leaders, what about representatives of North Karnataka? Have you listened to them?”

Following the demand from legislatures across all parties, Horatti decided to take it up for discussion for half an hour.