NDTV
“ I visited China two years ago, and I was astounded by seeing the all-round development of China. I thought their mindset, their attitude will be completely changed if they see and come back to our country. ”- Krishna, Speaker, Karnataka Assembly
Bangalore, Jun 20: Over 200 legislators from Karnataka will soon be packing their bags, grabbing their passports and setting off to China.
The cost per legislator is approximately Rs 2 lakh, which amounts to a total of around Rs 5.5 crore.
However, the man behind the idea, Karnataka Assembly Speaker Krishna, wonders why there should be any objection to the plan.
''Without knowing things, people talk as they please. This is not a pleasure trip. And also we are not asking more money from the government. Some people simply criticize legislators and politicians.''
''I visited China two years ago, and I was astounded by seeing the all-round development of China. I thought their mindset, their attitude will be completely changed if they see and come back to our country,'' said Krishna, Speaker, Karnataka Assembly.
Spouses will not be part of the trip and the legislators are supposed to submit a report on what they have learnt once they return.
Public anger
Nevertheless, not everybody is convinced.
''I think it would be a wonderful experience if they planned to learn something, but it is unlikely that they would learn anything as most of them are uneducated. I think it is a waste of money,'' said a local.
''I don't think it is really necessary to go to China to know about this. We are the pioneers of IT and we are in Bangalore. If they really want to know, they can know everything here at their fingertips. You don't need to spend our tax money going all the way up there,'' said another.
In fact, the public outcry against the trip has already taken the legal route.
Krishna Bhat, a resident of Bangalore, has challenged the legislators' trip in the Karnataka High Court.
The petition says that the trip is an unnecessary burden on taxpayers, especially at a time when the state is reeling under drought-like conditions.
However, the speaker of the Karnataka Assembly at least seems to believe that if the legislators actually go to China, it will help the progress of the state.
And as for the taxpayer, all that he can hope is that the trip does prove to be of some useful purpose.