Bengaluru, March 16 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) voiced strong accusations against the Congress-led Karnataka government on Monday, stating it displayed "contempt for democracy" after Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader was forced to adjourn the session due to Ministers' alleged failure to provide written responses to opposition MLAs' questions.

The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and seasoned BJP figure R. Ashoka characterized the events in the Assembly as an "unprecedented disgrace" and a "direct assault on the institution of the Legislature".

The BJP contended that it was a historic first for Speaker Khader to adjourn the House because Congress Ministers did not submit written replies to the questions scheduled for discussion.

LoP Ashoka condemned the Congress for its perceived hypocrisy, noting that while the party claims nationally that "democracy is in danger", it fails to execute fundamental Parliamentary duties in a state it governs.

The BJP also criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, asserting that while he advocates for constitutional values and accountability at the national level, Karnataka Ministers are neglecting their duty to respond to questions from elected representatives in the state Assembly.

According to Ashoka, this incident reveals "institutional arrogance" and "complete contempt for democratic processes".

The BJP further alleged that the situation signifies a deeper governance crisis, claiming that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has lost oversight of his Cabinet and the state bureaucracy.

LoP Ashoka expressed his concerns about the state government's accountability, stating that if Karnataka Ministers cannot prepare written responses for MLAs, it raises serious questions about governance.

He added that the Speaker's necessity to adjourn due to the government's inability to address Legislative queries unveils significant governance deficiencies.

Furthermore, Ashoka accused the Congress of running national campaigns to protect democracy while simultaneously avoiding accountability in Karnataka.

This critique followed disturbances in the Assembly caused by the Karnataka government's inability to respond to numerous queries posed by members, which led to the Speaker's decision to suspend proceedings.

State BJP General Secretary and MLA, V. Sunil Kumar, urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to grasp the seriousness of the Assembly's situation.

In statements to the media in Bengaluru, Sunil Kumar noted that despite the Karnataka government’s directives for Ministers to be present during question sessions, the results were disappointing.

Out of 230 written inquiries for the day, the government only managed to respond to around 80, leading to the Speaker's evident disappointment.

Condemning the government's approach, Sunil Kumar remarked that it was the first time in history that Speaker Khader had vacated the Chair in protest, describing this as a shocking occurrence.

He insisted that if the Karnataka government respects the state Assembly, the Constitution, and the conduct of the House, the Chief Minister must intervene.

Sunil Kumar emphasized that not only should queries be addressed, but the Chief Minister should clarify the seriousness with which Ministers and officials should treat Assembly proceedings.

He alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seems incapable of managing this issue. He recalled that during the previous Assembly session, the Chief Minister had sent a letter to Ministers mandating their compulsory attendance in the Assembly.

However, that directive appears to have been disregarded, indicating a loss of control over the administration.

Sunil Kumar remarked that functioning for even 40 days a year is becoming increasingly difficult for the Assembly.

"Even during those limited sessions, Legislative members are not receiving adequate answers, and often irrelevant responses are given to inquiries, establishing this as a routine issue. In this context, the Speaker's dissatisfaction is understandable," he stated, urging the Karnataka government to take action.

In a setback for the Congress-led state government, Speaker Khader adjourned the House on Monday, sharply rebuking the government for its failure to provide written answers to unstarred questions raised by MLAs despite multiple warnings.

Expressing profound dissatisfaction, the Speaker noted that the government had been cautioned numerous times about ensuring timely replies to legislators' questions.

"If the state government cannot respond to MLAs' inquiries, why should they even attend the Assembly? How is this just? I have already issued strict orders four times, and this is the fifth time," he expressed.

Questioning the government's effectiveness, the Speaker wondered how the House could function properly if such oversights persist.

"If this is the government's attitude, how can we expect to run the House in a manner that is agreeable to all?" he queried.

Speaker Khader declared that House proceedings would not resume until the relevant Ministers and officials provide explanations for the delay in answering questions.

"Until the concerned Ministers and officials come forward to explain the issue, I will not conduct the House. Therefore, I am adjourning the House," he stated.

Earlier, following the Question and Answer session, Home Minister G. Parameshwara communicated on behalf of the state government that out of the 230 questions scheduled for written responses, only 84 had been answered.