Karnataka Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad Denies Proposing Gold Coins, Silver Plates For MLAs, MLCs to Celebrate 50 Years of Vidhan Sabha Building

The state government sought allocation of funds, among other things, amounting to Rs. 3 crore, to spend on gifts to be distributed to state legislators.

Bengaluru, October 16: Karnataka Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad on Monday denied reports which claimed he proposed gifting Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Members of Legislative Council (MLC) gold coins and silver plates to celebrate 50 years of the Vidhan Sabha building. Reportedly, the state government sought allocation of funds, among other things, amounting to Rs. 3 crore, to spend on gifts to be distributed to state legislators.

To mark 50 years of celebrations of the Vidhan Sabha building on October 25, the Karnataka Government had reportedly forwarded a Rs. 26.87-crore proposal to the state Finance Minister seeking allocation of funds for various purposes. It was then reported that the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka Government proposed gold biscuits and silver gifts for the state legislators as gift.

Denying the reports which angered flood-stricken people of Karnataka, Koliwad said, “I assure you there is no proposal for distribution of gold coins and silver plates to MLAs. How it has appeared in the news, I do not know.” He, however, confirmed that another proposal of Rs 26 crore was sent to the state finance ministry for approval. “There is a different proposal of Rs. 26 crore in which 19 items are listed and it has been sent to the finance ministry for approval,” he said.

Following the reports of the Rs 26 crore proposal, former Karnataka Minister Nagraj Shetty criticised the government and said, “Today the entire state is suffering from various problems, so the first priority of the government is to take care of the public of the state. That is why it was elected.”

As per reports of news agency ANI, the state government proposal includes Rs. 75 lakh for the flower decoration of the state assembly, Rs. 35 lakh for coffee and tea for the legislatures, Rs. 375 lakh for food, Rs. 3 crore for special documentary on the chief ministers’ achievements and budget to make three documentaries on the Vidhan Sabha.