K'taka Assembly Speaker warns govt over fewer number of replies to questions asked by MLAs
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader on Friday admonished the government, stating that his "gentleness" should not be considered his "weakness", as he took strong exception to the fewer number of replies provided by various departments compared to the number of questions MLAs had submitted.
The Speaker's warning came as the opposition strongly objected and sought his "protection", when Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy laid written replies to only 55 out of 131 total questions in the Assembly.
Over the last couple of days, Khader, though mildly, had repeatedly asked the government to ensure replies to the questions asked by legislators.
"All MLAs want the government's reply to the questions they ask. They want proper replies, whether the questions are starred or unstarred. Once questions put by MLAs are categorised as starred or unstarred, ten days are given for the ministers to reply through officials. Despite ten days, replies are given to only 55 out of 130 questions asked. Replies are not being sent properly," Khader said.
He said, "Explanations for the delay and when a reply can be expected are also not provided by the departments. Only if the MLA follows up does he or she get answers in case of a delay. If not, no reply is sent to legislators. Despite a committee headed by the Deputy Speaker being formed, there has not been a proper solution for this issue."
Stating that this practice would escalate into a major issue if not stopped, the Speaker asked, "Why call a session if the government cannot reply properly to the questions legislators put forward? Why should members ask questions?"
He further said he understands the members' feelings and that it is the government's responsibility to ensure such things don't happen.
Further pointing out that he had been cautioning the government for the last three days about the fewer number of written replies to the unstarred questions, he said, "My gentleness should not be considered as my weakness. I have been quiet expecting the government to act."
Home Minister G Parameshwara, responding on behalf of the government, said he understands the concerns and anger expressed by opposition members and the Chair.
"I will bring this issue to the notice of the chief minister. The CM has already given instructions to ministers. I will request him to instruct all ministers in this regard once again to ensure this doesn't happen in the future," he added.
Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani too assured the House and members that he will call a meeting of all departments to ensure that replies are sent to concerned MLAs before the session ends.
Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Ashoka, took strong exception to the government's few replies, stating, "Every day you (Speaker) warn them (govt), but it seems to have no impact on the government. Ministers are not listening, they are in a deep slumber. This is the third time you have been warning the government. This should not continue."
He further said that if a list detailing the number of questions asked to each department and how many of those questions received a reply is prepared, "we will be able to find the black sheep' -- which official is lazy or is playing golf instead of working efficiently. Get a report before this session ends and admonish those departments and officials."
"The Speaker has many powers, use them against the government," Ashoka urged the chair.
Senior BJP MLA Suresh Kumar, taking a dig at the government, told Home Minister Parameshwara to constitute a cabinet subcommittee to look into why replies are not being given to the questions put by MLAs.
He said, "In some cases, questions that were asked two years ago have not been answered yet."
Asking the Speaker to come to the protection of legislators, another BJP MLA Sunil Kumar asked the Chair to be strict on this issue.
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Explosive device kills 13, injures 38 on bus in southwestern Colombia as violence persists
Bogota (Colombia) (PTI): An explosive device killed 13 people travelling on a bus in southwestern Colombia on Saturday, an attack the country's army chief described as a “terrorist act" that also left at least 38 injured as violence linked to drug trafficking in the region escalates.
Octavio Guzman, the governor of the region of Cauca, said on X that the device was set off while the bus was travelling along the Panamerican Highway in the municipality of Cajibio. Five children were among the injured, Cauca Health Secretary Carolina Camargo told Noticias Caracol, a TV news program.
Gen. Hugo Lopez, commander of Colombia's Armed Forces, told a news conference that it was a “terrorist act" and blamed the network of a man known as “Ivan Mordisco” — one of Colombia's most wanted figures — and the Jaime Martínez faction. Both are dissidents of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that operate in the region.
Neither Ivan Mordisco nor the Jaime Martínez faction abide by the peace agreement signed with the state in 2016.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack on X.
“Those who carried out the attack and killed seven civilians — and wounded 17 others — in Cajibío — many of them Indigenous people — are terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers,” he wrote.
The attack is the latest in a spate of explosions that have attempted to target public infrastructure. At least 26 incidents have taken place in the past two days in southwestern Colombia, which Lopez said have only affected civilians.
They included a shooting at a police station in the rural area of Jamundi, and an attack on a Civil Aviation radar facility in El Tambo, where authorities took down three explosives-laden drones earlier on Saturday. No one was hurt.
On Friday, two vehicles rigged with explosives were detonated near military units in Cali and Palmira, causing material damage.
The escalation of violence in that region — a territory contested by illegal armed groups linked to drug trafficking — prompted the mobilisation of high-ranking officials on Saturday. Led by Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez, the delegation that includes regional governors and local authorities, was meeting in Palmira when the deadly explosion occurred.
“These criminals seek to instil fear, but we will respond with firmness,” Sanchez said on X.
Meanwhile, Francisca Toro, governor of Valle del Cauca, has called upon the national government to provide “immediate support.” In a message on X, Toro called for a reinforcement of public security forces, enhanced intelligence operations and “decisive actions” against crime in the face of a “terrorist-level escalation.”
According to authorities, Cauca and Valle del Cauca serve as a critical hub for illicit activities of illegal armed groups vying for control over sea and river access routes leading to the port of Buenaventura — a key transit point used to traffic drugs to Central America and Europe.
The government has also offered a reward of more than 1 million dollars for information leading to the capture of “Marlon,” who is identified as the leader of the region's dissident group. On Friday, local authorities offered more than USD 14,000 for information leading to the identification and location of those behind the attacks in Cali and Palmira.
