Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, Feb 20: "When a political party comes to power in a state, the party decides whom to make the chief minister. The state government has selected Siddaramaiah as the chief minister of Karnataka state. It is not correct commenting or criticizing him when he is trying to strengthen the party," said former union minister Veerappa Moily.

He was responding to a question in connection to the repeated demands from some quarters for a Dalit chief minister in the state.

He was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the newly constructed concrete road for Kadri Yogishwar Math on Friday February 20. The road was inaugurated by Moily along with Mahantarasa Rajayogi Sandhyanath of Kadri Yogishwar Math.

"Demand for a Dalit chief minister is an unwanted issue created in the party. If any minister wants to become a chief minister it is his personal wish and he should be an active member of the party and work for the party. That is when you earn power. In this case the leaders should be aware that no one should interfere in internal matters of the party. Assembly election will take place in a few years and if Siddaramaiah continues his good work, he will become the CM once again," Moily said.

To question on the union government asking Congress to vacate its offices in Delhi, Moily said that the party has submitted papers for lease extension. "Congress party cannot do anything if the government does not grant the requested extension. I am confident that no government will ask any party to quit their offices and even the Congress party will not have to do it," he added

Speaking about the oil prices, Moily said, "The reduction in the oil prices should benefit the consumers. Whenever the price of crude oil went up, the erstwhile UPA did not increase the fuel price and instead supported the government with subsidy even to the extent of Rs 1,90,000 crore. But the amount of subsidy presently is negligible at only Rs 30,000 crore. Hence the benefit to the consumer is not remarkable and is unjustified. With a better subsidy, the price would have been much lower. But unfortunately that is not what has happened.

"When the price of oil comes down, it is like an opportunity for the government," he added.

"The crude oil cavern installation at Vizag is one of the three such caverns being built by the Indian government, the other two are located in Mangaluru and Udupi. These should be used by the Indian government. But they are not taking any steps towards making use of these crude oil storage caverns. Without any proper rule and without bringing any changes today or in future, the government as well as the consumers will suffer if the oil price shoots up once again," he said.

Mayor Mahabala Maarla, deputy mayor Kavita, Vedamurthy Vittaldas Tantri Swamiji, Kadri ward corporator Ashok D K, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, Premanand Shetty, A Janardhan Shetty and others were also present on this occasion.