Ahead of the winter session of the Karnataka Legislature at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha next week, RTI activist and Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti President Bhimappa Gadad has demanded an immediate halt to free meals, tea and coffee being served to MLAs.
In a letter to the Speaker, Deputy Speakers and the Chief Secretary, Gadad said that MLAs already receive a daily session allowance of ₹2,500, meant specifically to cover meals and snacks. Providing free food on top of this, he argued, amounts to an illegal misuse of public funds.
Gadad warned that if free meals continue, he will initiate legal action to recover the food expenditure from the Speaker and concerned officials.
Speaking at a press conference in Belagavi, he noted that food and refreshment expenses for a 10-day session can touch ₹3 crore, despite every MLA being paid enough allowance to cover their own meals. “MLAs should eat from the amount they receive. They cannot take both allowance and free food,” he said.
He further demanded that salaries, allowances and other facilities be withdrawn for MLAs who remain absent during full-day sittings. He suggested imposing a daily penalty on such members, instead of offering incentives like free refreshments.
“If the government continues offering free meals just to increase attendance, the Legislature will resemble a mid-day meal school. It dents the dignity of the House,” he remarked.