KTK speaker says no move to give gold biscuits to legislators

Karnataka Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad said today that there was no proposal to gift gold biscuits to legislators and silver plates to secretariat employees to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of power in the state.
Koliwad said a proposal had been sent to the finance department to approve the budget for commemorating the diamond jubilee of the Vidhana Soudha, which houses the Legislative Assembly and Council, but there was no mention about giving gold biscuits and silver plates.
Reports in a section of the media had said if the assembly secretariat had its way, lawmakers would get the gold biscuits with the state emblem embossed on them.

Each weighing 13 grams would have cost Rs 55,000, whereas each silver plate was priced at Rs 6,000.
"Let me go through the newspapers. I will take necessary action (against them)," said Koliwad.
Koliwad said he had not withdrawn the proposal pending before the finance department.

The Karnataka government is geared up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vidhana Soudha, known for its grandeur and regality.
The construction of the building was commenced under the aegis of then chief minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah and completed in a record four years, exactly 50 years ago.
The government had employed convicts to build the structure.

Built in neo-Dravidian architecture style, the foundation stone for the building was laid by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru.