Karnataka: MLAs must attend Assembly committees, says ex-Law Minister

Senior BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar has taken exception to curbs imposed on 18 party MLAs from participating in the meetings of the different Assembly committees, some of which discuss pressing issues faced by people and explore solutions.

While suspending 18 BJP MLAs for six months for unruly conduct in the House, last month, Speaker UT Khader also ordered that they cannot participate in the meetings of the Assembly committees. The BJP, toughening its stand subsequently, asked all its members to stay away from committees.

Kumar, who is a member of the Petitions Committee, in a social media post, said he raised the subject with the Speaker and later with the Law & Parliamentary Affairs Minister, explaining the adverse impact of the suspension. “The suspension has caused a serious setback to discussing with officials and resolving several serious issues people in different places of the state are facing,” the former Law Minister said, calling for immediate revocation of suspension to facilitate smooth functioning of the House.


“The Petitions Committee, in which I am a member, has been able to address or find solutions to various problems people face. We represent people and cannot afford to abdicate our responsibility,” he said, while urging the Speaker to withdraw his order of suspension in the interests of good Parliamentary traditions.