K’tka legislature’s Monsoon Session begins amid health SOPs

Bengaluru, Sep 21 (IANS) An eight-day Monsoon Session of the Karnataka legislature began on Monday amid unprecedented health safety measures like compulsory wearing of masks, gloves, face shields and permission for entry to only those carrying COVID-19 negative certificates.

The first-of-its-kind session has several firsts to its credit — legislators sitting in glass enclosures, and staff and marshals wearing gloves, face shields and masks. Each legislator wore a face mask before they were allowed entry into the House. Sanitiser bottles were placed at their seats.

Special seating arrangements were made for members of the Legislative Assembly and Council in accordance with the social distancing guidelines.

“Till date, around 70 MLAs, MLCs and more than dozen Ministers have tested coronavirus positive, due to which the Secretariat took these measures,” an official said.

The Assembly and Legislative Council will be adjourned for an hour for lunch after obituary references to former President Pranab Mukherjee, leaders and prominent personalities who passed away during the interregnum.

The Opposition Congress is trying to push hard for a debate on the state’s economy, alleged corruption during COVID-19 management, drugs scandal, to corner the government. The Janata Dal-Secular plans to counter the ruling BJP on three contentious ordinances that are in line with the Union government’s farm Bills.

–IANS

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