Opposition stages walkout in K'taka Assembly

Bangalore, Aug 7 (UNI) The opposition Congress today staged a walkout in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, protesting against the state government for not allocating separate funds for the implementation of Nanjundappa Committee report to remove regional imbalance in the state.

Replying to a discussion on the issue, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the coalition government was committed to implement the committee report recommendations over the next eight years and had announced this in the Belgaum session of the Legislature.

It had provided Rs 1,571 crore in this year's Budget for the purpose, he said.

Congress members, including Mr Siddaramaiah and Mr Mallikarjun Kharge, wanted to know whether the government had released separate funds, besides regular allocation for the implementation of the recommendations and the House witnessed a hot debate over the issue.

They said the government had provided funds only from the regular budgetary allocation and not any additonal funds.

Not satisfied with the clarification given by Mr Yediyurappa, the Congress members, led by Leader of the Opposition N Dharam Singh, staged the walkout.

UNI