Bengaluru, March 16 (NationPress) In a major setback for the Congress-led government, Karnataka Assembly Speaker, U.T. Khader, adjourned the session on Monday, delivering a strong admonition for the government’s inability to respond to unstarred questions posed by MLAs despite numerous reminders from the Chair.

Expressing his profound discontent, Khader emphasized that the government had been cautioned multiple times to ensure timely responses to the queries raised by the legislators.

"If the government cannot address the concerns of MLAs, then what is the purpose of their presence in the Assembly? How can this be considered just? I have issued stern directives on four occasions, and this marks the fifth," he stated.

Highlighting the lack of progress from the government, the Speaker queried how the Assembly could operate effectively with such oversights. “If this attitude persists, how are we expected to manage the House in a manner that is satisfactory for everyone?” he questioned.

Khader also proclaimed that the session would not proceed until the relevant ministers and officials provided an explanation for the delays in answering the questions. "I will not continue the proceedings until the responsible ministers and officials come to me with a valid reason for this delay. Therefore, I am adjourning the House," he declared.

Previously, after the Question Hour, Home Minister G. Parameshwara informed the Assembly that the government had answered only 84 out of the 230 written questions that were due.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka raised objections to this explanation, pointing out that less than 50% of the questions had been addressed despite the Speaker's repeated warnings.

In response to the criticism, Parameshwara insisted that there had been some improvement in the response rate.

Nevertheless, Ashoka remained skeptical and argued that the government was disregarding the Speaker’s orders. "Repeated warnings have been issued, yet the same situation arises again and again. The government appears apathetic to the Speaker's concerns," he remarked.

Intervening in the discussion, Khader reiterated that the purpose of the Assembly session is for legislators to bring forth issues and demand answers from the government. "The session is intended for the legislators, not the ministers. Every three months, all legislators convene, and members from all parties pose questions. Only 15 starred questions are discussed in the House," he clarified.

Following the Speaker's decision to adjourn the session, opposition members expressed their support by banging their desks in approval.