Hate Speech Prevention Bill was not passed in haste: Speaker U.T. Khader
Bengaluru: Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader on Monday clarified that the Hate Speech Prevention Bill was not passed in a hurry during the winter session of the Legislature held at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.
Addressing a press conference at the Vidhana Soudha to brief the media on the proceedings of the session, Khader said that the bill was discussed, but confusion arose as multiple issues were taken up simultaneously.
“When an important bill is being discussed and opposition members enter the well of the House and protest, what option is left? There was a detailed discussion on the Hate Speech Prevention Bill in the Legislative Council as well,” he said.
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Khader added that the Assembly had provided ample opportunity for discussion, but opposition parties chose not to participate. “There was no restriction on debate in the Assembly. However, the opposition did not take part in the discussion,” he said.
Responding to a question on the venue of future sessions, the Speaker said discussions are underway on holding the monsoon session in Belagavi instead of the winter session. He explained that the winter season coincides with a large number of religious and social events, and ministers and MLAs often have prior commitments during that period.
On the reported expenditure of ₹43 lakh for the Speaker’s Bench at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Khader said the work was carried out by the Karnataka State Forest Development Corporation and the Public Works Department.
“We are aware of the history and significance of the bench. However, the Speaker’s office does not deal with expenditure details,” he said, adding that the Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly had appreciated the design and was replicating it there. “That itself is a matter of pride for us,” he remarked.
On a question regarding Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar giving an incorrect reply in the House on the release of installments under the Lakshmi Housing Scheme, the Speaker said the minister had acknowledged the mistake and apologised on the floor of the House. “She has also assured that the department will examine how the error occurred,” Khader said.
Providing details of the session, Khader said the Legislature sat for 57 hours and 35 minutes over 10 days, during which 23 bills were passed.
As many as 39 members debated issues related to North Karnataka for 17 hours and 2 minutes, and seven resolutions were unanimously passed for submission to the Central government.
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A total of 2,109 questions were received during the session. Of the 135 questions listed for oral answers, 134 were answered, while 1,750 out of 1,974 questions listed for written replies were responded to.
Under Rule 351, 180 notices were admitted and 70 answered, while 228 out of 368 matters raised for attention were addressed. Two matters were discussed during Zero Hour.
Khader also noted that school and college students, along with members of the public, visited the Legislature during the session. A park was inaugurated within the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha premises, and the world’s second-largest national flag was unfurled during the session, he added.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
