From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 26: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday recalled that a leading newspaper had criticized his appointment as Finance Minister as ‘how can a person who could not count 100 sheep, prepare a budget’.
“I took it up as a challenge and after consulting experts presented my budget. On the next day, leading newspaper ‘The Hindu’ appreciated the budget and wrote an editorial describing the budget as best,’’ he said asking the new legislators of the State Assembly to develop the habit and interest to acquire knowledge and be studious.
Addressing a training workshop for the new legislators organised by Speaker U T Khader near Nelamanagala, he said as many as 70 MLAs out of the total strength of the assembly of 224 have become members for the first time. Former MP and Union Minister K H Muniyappa, who is the new Food and Civil Supplies Minister, has become an MLA for the first time as also former minister Gali Janardhana Reddy.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that the State’s first annual budget size was barely Rs 21.3 crore as against the present budget, which was presented by BJP chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, was to the tune of Rs 3.09 lakh crore. This shows the growth of the State’s economy, he said.
He explained that Basavanna had described what should be the ideal budget. Work and production as well as welfare are the basic features of the budget. The legislators must know how the money comes and how it is spent and also affects the people, he said.
The chief minister asked the MLAs to study the constitution and imbibe the constitutional values because a person like me could become an MLA and chief minister because of the Constitution prepared by Dr B R Ambedkar.
“If we did not have a constitution, I or persons like former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa or C T Ravi could not have become MLAs,’’ he said.
The chief minister said all the legislators must make it a point to dutifully attend the legislature proceedings and study all the papers and always be attentive. The MLAs should not just mark their attendance and go back. All of us must understand why veteran Socialist Shantaveri Gopala Gowda is still remembered and considered as the best parliamentarian. We can succeed if we are studious and prepare well, he said.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that Kannada Chalavali leader Vatal Nagaraj is regarded as one of the best legislators in the State because he would always be present in the house when the quorum bell rings and would stay in the house till the end besides taking active part in the debates. The MLAs should emulate only the good examples and not rabble rousing persons, he said.
The chief minister said the people respect and support those who work hard, are well-behaved and respond to the needs and problems of the people and such people get elected. Those without concern for the people may accidentally get elected once but will be thrown out mercilessly. The voters do not respect the persons who fail to deliver results.
The MLAs have to be pro-people and be aware of the problems of the people. They must prepare themselves by studying, reading and discussing with experts besides respond to the problems of their constituents.
“Money or muscle power or arrogance will not work in a democracy. People watch and closely follow everything,’’ he said.
Underscoring the importance of legislators studying the Constitution and rules and regulations of the legislature, he said laws cannot be enacted by flouting the constitution and therefore, it is the duty of the people’s representatives to master the constitution. “The MLAs can effectively highlight the problems of their constituencies in accordance with the rules and regulations and good legislators,’’ he said.
Assembly Speaker U T Khader, Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti and legislature secretary Vishalakshi were present.
Earlier, former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan called on the chief minister at his home office of Krishna.