Bengaluru: With an eye on reviving the charm of old Bangalore, speaker UT Khader has proposed to open up iconic Vidhana Soudha to the public every Sunday, an initiative aimed at making the secretariat accessible to common people. Although nascent, the proposal has already garnered significant interest.
Khader said the plan is to allow visitors inside Vidhana Soudha between 4pm and 7pm every Sunday. Permanent lighting will add to the experience.
“When we opened up Vidhana Soudha during the book fest a few days ago, we were not sure of the footfall. But the numbers were extremely promising,” Khader said.
He said the goal is to recreate the Bangalore of old, when families could spend quality time together without security restrictions that have limited access to iconic buildings in recent years. “The idea is for families to have a sort of
picnic, where children have a fun-filled day with food and beverages,” he said.
Asked about potential security concerns, he dismissed fears, insisting law enforcement agencies would handle safety measures. “We cannot be scared of the 1% troublemakers and keep out 99% of the people who want to enjoy the beauty of Vidhana Soudha,” he said.
Khader also revealed plans to permanently illuminate Vidhana Soudha. He said the legislature will soon have a dedicated ‘Legislators’ Day’ every year and the event will feature sport and cultural programmes at a large venue.
To foster camaraderie among key stakeholders of democracy, the state legislature will launch an annual cricket league featuring teams from diverse sectors, including legislators, celebrities, media, and the judiciary. As part of the initiative, two teams comprising 300 legislators will compete, along with a celebrity team, a media team, and a team representing the judiciary. Speaker UT Khader said efforts are on underway to form a team of bureaucrats to join the league. He confirmed that his office is actively reaching out to judges and celebrities to ensure broad participation. “We expect this to spread bonhomie among the pillars of democracy,” he said. The tournament is expected to become a yearly fixture, adding a lighter, competitive spirit to interactions between govt officials, lawmakers, and the media.
Related
