BJP demands extension of session to discuss budget

Citing inadequacy of time for all of its members to air their views on Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s maiden budget, the Opposition BJP demanded the government in the Legislative Assembly to extend the ongoing budget session by a few more days.

The legislature session, which was convened on July 2, is scheduled to conclude on July 12.

Leader of the Opposition B S Yeddyurappa requested Deputy Speaker Krishna Reddy to extend the session by three to four days. “We (Opposition) have been repeatedly demanding that the session be extended so that all 104 BJP MLAs can speak on the budget and the various issues plaguing the state. Why is the government hesitating so much?” he asked.

Earlier, his colleague K S Eshwarappa had made the demand when Reddy asked the members to restrict their speech to about 15 minutes, as 36 members have given their names to speak on the budget.

The members were also exasperated by the absence of the ministers and officers. “This is a budget session. But the entire government, including the chief minister and the deputy chief minister, is absent,” Govind Karjol (BJP) said.

Except for one or two ministers, the entire treasury benches were empty. Almost all Congress ministers and MLAs were absent as they were attending a party programme in which Dinesh Gundu Rao and Eshwar Khandre took charge as the KPCC president and working president, respectively.