Udupi: Responding to a charge levelled by MP Shobha Karandlaje that the session was being cut short, Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister for Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fisheries charged that Opposition parties wasted time in the Legislative Assembly staging protest. 

"When BJP was in power in the state, legislature session was held for 30 to 35 days in a year. The present government is holding session for 60 to 65 days. But the Opposition parties are wasting the time allocated during the session by carrying out protests," he claimed. He denied the charge that they (BJP) were not given chance to speak in the session.

Replying to a query, he said that the bills in the Assembly were necessary for the release of funds towards development programmes, although the Opposition forgets its responsibility, he said that the government cannot forget public welfare. 

When asked about pressure exerted by Mahila Congress President Lakshmi Hebbalkar on a sub-inspector to allow the transportation of sand lorry, he said, "Sometimes, the work cannot be done by soft words," and added that the state has four lakh officers and not all are same.