"Silly criticism": Karnataka ministers defend proposal for installing recliners in Assembly

Karnataka minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has defended the government's proposal to install recliner chairs in the state assembly. Rao said that unnecessary criticism should not happen and added that this is being done with no bad intentions.

He further said that some of the MLAs spend the whole day in the assembly without going back to their home. The main purpose of installing the recliners is to give them some rest after which they can work again.

"Silly criticism should not be done. This has been done with no bad intentions. Some of the MLAs spend the whole day in the Assembly. Instead of going back to their homes, the MLAs can take a little rest here and attend work again. It is to help MLAs to be available in the Assembly", Dinesh Gundu Rao said to on Monday.


Another minister, Eshwara Khandre, came out in support of the proposal that the BJP should be ashamed for criticising the proposal and it is being done to improve the productivity of the house.

"To improve the productivity, speaker proposed that and what is wrong in it? BJP is trying to politicise each and everything...they should be ashamed", he said while speaking to ANI.

Earlier, Karnataka Legislative Assembly speaker UT Khader had announced to install recliner chairs in the assembly session, which began on Monday for the legislators to rest.

Just like the previous sessions, the MLAs will also be provided snacks so that they do not leave the house and eat somewhere else. He added that the recliner chairs will be installed in the assembly lounge itself.

"For this joint budget session, around 15 to 20 recliner chairs will be rented to allow legislators to take short naps after lunch. Several reforms and measures have already been implemented to improve legislators' attendance in the Assembly. This initiative is also part of that effort, and it is expected to further increase attendance," he said while speaking to media on February 26.