Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa bats for 2-day session as Covid-19 cases rise

BENGALURU: Taking cue from Parliament that’s set to end its session early due to rising Covid cases, CM BS Yediyurappa on Sunday held discussions with opposition parties on trimming the 10-day sitting of the legislature into a two-day session.
Some 76 MLAs have tested positive, and 30 are under treatment. Ten ministers cannot attend the session starting on Monday.
Covid: 10 ministers to skip session
The CM spoke to Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar of the Congress, and HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) to build consensus on having a focused sitting to take up important bills at the session starting on Monday.
At least 10 ministers, including deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan and home minister Basavaraj Bommai, will skip the session on Covid grounds.
The Congress demanded that the session be extended beyond 10 days so that significant bills and ordinances such as planned changes to APMC Act and Land Reforms Act could be discussed at length. Opposition parties want to corner the government on DJ Halli violence, drug racket and alleged corruption in Covid relief, and the Congress is said to have prepared 1,200 questions on these issues.
“The BJP wants to curtail democracy. Under the excuse of Covid, it’s trying to escape from debates on major issues. We won’t allow them to succeed,” said Shivakumar.
Officials from the chief minister’s office said Yediyurappa will try to convince opposition parties at the meeting of the business advisory committee on Monday. “The CM wants to limit the legislature session to the minimum. Since it is for health safety, opposition parties are expected to see the point and cooperate,” said SR Viswanath, parliamentary secretary to chief minister.
“It is desirable the house debates the bills. However, with many legislators and ministers not able to attend the session, we will consider all factors at the BAC meeting before arriving at a decision,” assembly speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri said.