Bangalore: Puttanna tries to do a Kumaraswamy, gets arrested
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Mar 18: After the recent success of ruling BJP’s MLA, K H Kumaraswamy, in getting the Finance Department to immediately release Rs 10 crore sanctioned by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar for rural road works in his Mudigere reserve constituency by staging a dharna in front of State Finance Department Secretary’s office in Vidhana Soudha, JD(S) MLC Puttanna tried to do a similar act and was thwarted by the police, who arrested him.
The JD(S) MLC came to Vidhana Soudha to stage a dharna in front of the Finance Department Secretary’s office in Vidhana Soudha on Monday demanding immediate acceptance of the three demands of school and college teachers, including release of UGC pay scale arrears.
He was immediately arrested by the police and taken to M S Building police station.
The BJP MLA, it may be recalled, had staged a dharna in front of the State Finance Department Principal Secretary Arvind Srivatsava in Vidhana Soudha and immediately pacified by the official by calling inside his chamber and presenting the Government Order to the Treasury Department for releasing the sum of Rs 10 crore sanctioned by the Chief Minister.
The JD(S) MLC had staged the protest on last Friday and warned that he would continue dharna if the State Government failed to fulfil the demands.
The JD(S) MLC has been espousing the three major demands of grant-in-aid for private schools and colleges opened between 1986-87 and 1994-95, payment of house rent allowance and city compensatory allowance for teachers of schools located in the Bangalore City Corporation limits and release of UGC pay scale arrears to college teachers since 2006..
Puttanna staged the dharna for nearly 30 minutes in front of the office Additional Chief Secretary, Finance L V Nagarajan.
The MLC shouted against the Government and alleged that the Finance Department has been deliberately delaying release of funds for granting UGC pay-scale and allowance to high school teachers.
The JD(S) MLC, who came with all preparations to stage the protest, was removed by the police.