Congress stages walkout in K'taka Council

Bangalore, Mar 15 (UNI) The main Opposition Congress members today staged a walkout in the Karnataka Legislative Council in protest against a substantial part of the State budget proposals being allegedly leaked out before being presented in the Assembly. Leader of the Opposition H K Patil, immediately after conclusion of a discussion on the Bhagyalakshmi scheme for girl children, charged that many of the budgetary proposals have got leaked and appeared in the media.

Accusing the State Government of failing to maintain the sanctity of the budget, scheduled to be presented tomorrow, the Congress members staged a walk-out.

Earlier, BJP member Shobha Karadlage raised the Bhagyalakshmi Scheme issue under Rule 330 and sought an explanation from the State Government for not launching the scheme even though it was announced in the previous budget.

Replying, Women and Child Welfare Minister H K Kumaraswamy said the Government had released Rs 166 crore for the scheme, aimed at depositing Rs 10,000 for girl children born in below poverty line families. The scheme was yet to kick off as the coordination of many other departments, including civil supplies, social welfare and finance, was needed. The process of issuing BPL cards to the needy had not yet been completed and once it was done, the scheme would be launched.

Congress members V S Ugrappa, Umashree, Motamma, JD(U)'s Dr M P Nadagouda and JD(S)' Srikante Gowda also spoke on the subject.

UNI