Assembly session nixes legislators African trip

BANGALORE: The ten-day political crisis in the state between the BJP government and Governor has thrown a spanner in the African tour plans of the Standing Committee.According to official sources, the study tour of a public sector undertaking committee a one week tour to South Africa comprising members of Assembly and the Council and chaired by BJP member M K Pattanshetty that was scheduled from June 1, has been cancelled following summoning of the Assembly session from June 2.The proposed foreign jaunt was expected to cost Rs 1,10,000 per member.A similar study tour to the northeastern states by the committee, too, was cancelled, in the wake of the political developments.In 2009, the special board of the state Legislature headed by then Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar had approved a long pending proposal to allow members of various standing committees to take up one foreign visit during their term.Within weeks after the special board of state Legislature clearing the foreign jaunt, a number of other standing committees have submitted their "study tour" plans to the government for approval.Official sources say that the legislators are entitled to an all expense paid trip abroad, not exceeding 17 days, besides three domestic tours.There are about 15 standing committees that comprise members of both the houses of the Legislature. Most MLAs and MLCs figure in at least one or more of such committees.