The three-day special training camp for 70 newly elected MLAs will be held at Dharmasthala Naturopathy Clinic in Nelamangala instead of Vidhana Soudha and Vikas Soudha.
Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader (left) with Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. (Supplied)
Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader’s initiative to conduct a three-day comprehensive training camp for newly-elected MLAs should have been lauded by all. But his decision to invite religious heads, spiritual leaders, and motivational speakers as part of the MLAs’ ‘training’ has drawn flak from progressive thinkers and a section of citizens too.
Khader told the reporters on Thursday, 22 June, that a three-day specialised training camp would be organised to provide inclusive information on various aspects of the Assembly, including its proceedings and the budgetary process, from 26 June.
The three-day special training camp for 70 new lawmakers in the 16th Karnataka Legislative Assembly was expected to be held at the Dharmasthala Naturopathy Clinic in Nelamangala in the Bengaluru Rural district. A health camp will be held on the inaugural day.
This is the first time that this training camp is being held outside the Vidhana Soudha and Vikas Soudha, claimed the officials of the Secretariat of the Legislative Assembly.
It is also for the first time that religious heads, spiritual leaders, and motivational speakers — like philanthropist and Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade, who is also a nominated Member of the Rajya Sabha, and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar — have been invited to speak at the camp.
Stating that the Budget session of the Assembly would begin on 3 July, Khader said: “The session will be held for 10 working days from 3 July to 14 July. Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot will address the joint session of the Assembly and Council at 12 pm on 3 July.”
Taking exception to Khader’s decision to invite religious heads, spiritual leaders, and motivational speakers for the three-day camp for newly elected legislators, writer and progressive thinker Professor KS Bhagwan said the move was “against the fundamentals of the Constitution”.
He pointed out: “The newly elected MLAs from all the political parties will be inclined to certain ideologies. The Speaker has to determine how much these are relevant to the Constitution of India, secularism and the people.”
He added: “The MLAs are people’s representatives. The people have elected them. They should be educated about taking up the overall development of the people instead of making these so-called spiritual leaders and religious heads deliver motivational speeches.”
He also said: “The Speaker should have stressed the teaching of the works of social reformers Basavanna, Buddha, Swami Vivekananda and BR Ambedkar. These religious invitees will speak on their own works and ideologies. It will not be useful either for the legislators or society.”
Bhagwan continued: “This will be against the fundamentals of the Constitution. One should not preach and propagate superstitious beliefs among the legislators. I will oppose this.”
It may be recalled that many political parties, including the Congress, took a dig at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government for inviting religious heads to take part in the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building in New Delhi on 28 May and making ‘Sengol’ – a religious symbol – its highlight.
Meanwhile, Khader said that the training camp was being organised to educate the new MLAs about Assembly proceedings and boost their confidence to attend the sessions.
He told reporters on Thursday: “The training camp will focus on both physical, spiritual and intellectual development of the newly elected legislators. The senior members of the house, former chief ministers including BS Yediyurappa and Veerappa Moily, former speakers and senior Cabinet ministers will address and interact with these MLAs.”
Khader said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would inaugurate the training camp at noon on 26 June.
He added: “The camp will cover various aspects including participation in the House, parliamentary rules, the question-and-answer period, the budget presentation process, legislative procedures and code of conduct for the legislators.”
He continued: “We have also invited spiritual leaders, religious heads and motivational speakers like Dharmasthala administrator Dr Veerendra Heggade, Mangalore’s Mohammed Kunji, Art of Living founder Ravi Shankar, Academician Dr Gururaj Karjagi and others to deliver motivational speeches.”
He also said: “Along with knowledge, the MLAs will also get the confidence to actively take part in session proceedings.”
KLA Secretary M K Vishalakshi told South First: “The training camp for the newly elected MLAs is held once every five years. It is organised either in Vidhana Soudha or Vikas Soudha. It is for the first time the camp is being held outside.”
She added: “It is an initiative taken by the Speaker, who has also invited religious heads, spiritual leaders, and motivational speakers for the total personality development of the MLAs.”
Apr 27, 2024
Apr 27, 2024
Apr 27, 2024
Apr 27, 2024
Apr 27, 2024
Apr 27, 2024
