Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa today joined the Opposition in flaying the state government over the absence of ministers from the House.
Noticing the absence of ministers against whom questions were listed during the Question Hour, Thimmappa questioned government's seriousness in conducting the session.
"Is this a joke? I come here every day, on time at this age - what is happening? One should feel privileged about getting an opportunity to come and sit here as a minister," he said.
Members from the opposition benches also criticised the state government on the absence of ministers.
"There seems to be a problem with the government, it is not alive," they said.
Most of the ministers, excluding IT Minister S R Patil, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, Cooperation Minister H S Mahadev Prasad and couple of others, were absent from the House during the Question Hour.
Thimmappa also expressed his disappointment over "unsatisfactory" response by ministers to a couple of questions raised by members during the Question Hour.
As the Leader of Opposition Jagadish Shettar (BJP) rose to make his intervention during the debate on drought, BJP members demanded that Law Minister Jayachandra should list the ministers on duty today.
They also pointed out at officials being absent from the House.
Trying to defend the government, Jayachandra said that those officials and ministers present in the House are part of the government. Ten Ministers have sought permission to remain absent, he said.
Thimmappa once again expressed his displeasure about the absence of ministers and said that "the ministers should attend the House while in session, we meet just for 10 or 15 days. Even after that if we are not attending properly, what is the use?"
"Attendance of ministers, also members is even more important when we are discussing about drought in 136 taluks. Government has to look into this seriously and ensure that ministers attend," he added.
