Karnataka minister's 'honorarium' remark sparks row at grievance programme

Karnataka minister KM Shivalinge Gowda faced protests over remarks about giving officials an "honorarium" for completing work on time. He said such money should not be demanded forcibly.

The remark was made during a Praja Seva programme at the Sakleshpur tahsildar's office in Hassan district on Saturday. The minister said officials should be respectfully acknowledged for helping people complete their work.

A member of the audience asked why citizens should pay government officials who already received salaries. The question led to a heated exchange at the venue. The minister accused the man of trying to disrupt the meeting. He then instructed police personnel to remove the man from the programme.

The protester identified as Punit, a farmer from Alur who had raised a grievance over land. Other attendees supported his objection and criticised the minister's remark, the newspaper reported.

Gowda later said he had only called for appreciation of officials who worked honestly and on time. He denied suggesting that people should pay bribes.

Hassan Deputy Commissioner KS Latha Kumari intervened to calm the gathering. She said the remarks had been misunderstood and promised action against officials demanding bribes, the newspaper reported. The minister also asked officials to understand the programme's legal and administrative provisions. He warned them against making citizens repeatedly visit government offices.