Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)

Udupi, Jul 9: A protest was organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) district unit near the taluk panchayat office on Tuesday July 9, opposing the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill-2013.

Former minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, said, “Panchayat Raj Bill is directly targeting the local representatives. They are the ones working for the public directly. It is difficult not only for BJP but for all who don’t belong to the state government.”
 
“Though the Bill was passed in state Legislative Assembly, it was not presented in the Legislative Council where the majority is made up of BJP members; so the Bill cannot be amended. Further, the request from the gram panchayat members has been ignored completely. There are 93,000 gram panchayat members in the state and they should not be ignored,” he added.
 
“This order was against the principles of de-centralization. We urge the government to withdraw the bill immediately,” said Poojari.
 
Uday Kumar Shetty, district BJP president said that the Congress government was trying to tighten the grip of bureaucrats over Panchayat Raj institutions. “They are more into controversial matters like cow slaughter ban, endowment of Shree Krishna Math, price reduction of liquor and finally, Panchayat Raj Bill,” he said.
 
Raghupati Bhat, former MLA, Mattar Rathnakar Hegde, Katapady Shankar Poojary, Thingale Vikramarjuna Hegde and BJP panchayat members were present.