Bengaluru: The Karnataka Assembly on Friday conferred its first-ever 'Best MLA Award' on former Karnataka chief minister and ruling BJP MLA B S Yediyurappa, recognising his long stint in electoral politics and best performance as a Member of the House.
Karnataka Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said the award was instituted on the suggestions of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who said all the legislative assemblies and councils should honour their best members.
Om Birla, while addressing the historical joint session in the Karnataka legislature, organized to commemorate the 75 years of India's Independence on the subject 'Democracy - Safeguarding democratic values', rued the stalling of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings "in a planned manner".
"Parliamentary democracy in India has been strengthened over the years. The successful conduct of 17 parliamentary elections and more than 300 assembly elections since independence in India provided a mirror to the strong democratic roots in the country," he said. "Transfer of power has also been peaceful and harmonious in the country. The parliamentary democratic system has been accepted as the best system to run a country across the world," he said. "However, pre-planned stalling of parliament proceedings are not in the highest traditions of principles of democracy. Democracy allows for differences of opinion. It is good to debate and differ. But, raising slogans in the parliament is not a good trend. The legislators should focus on law-making and meaningful discussions," he noted.
Also read: Karnataka Congress boycotts Lok Sabha Speaker's address to joint session
Yediyurappa, after receiving the award, said he has honestly attempted to fulfil the aspirations of the people in the temple of democracy. "I have accepted the award with all humility," he said. The veteran leader had served the state as its chief minister four times. He stepped down on July 26 this year. He got elected to the Karnataka assembly in 1983 for the first time. He also was a member of the legislative council and Lok Sabha MP.
On Birla's suggestion, a committee has been constituted under the Assembly Speaker's chairmanship which comprises Chief Minister, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister and members from the opposition parties. He said this award, which will be given annually, is only for the members of the House and not Ministers.
The state unit of the Congress party boycotted the joint session address by Om Birla. Former Chief Minister and JD (S) leader of the House H.D. Kumaraswamy said that the party does not want to show disrespect to the Lok Sabha Speaker and they are attending the joint session. JD (S) legislator K. Annadani raised slogans asking that the speech be made in the Kannada language as soon as Om Birla began his speech in Hindi.
With inputs from agencies
