Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 19: Ruling Congress in the state has sent a clear warning to state governor, Vajubhai Vala, to stop blocking pro-people initiatives of the government. Addressing a joint press conference organized at the legislative party office of the Congress in Vidhan Soudha on Wednesday May 18, MLC, Ugrappa warned the governor to be prepared to face agitation if he continues with this attitude.

Ugrappa accused the governor of blocking efforts of the Congress government to meet the promises it had made to the people through its manifesto as well as the annual budget. He resented the governor's move in rejecting various proposals and bills referred to him for approval. He gave instances of rejection of government's initiatives in case of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike bill, appointment of chairman to Karnataka Public Service Commission, recommendation to appoint Justice K L Manjunath as Upa Lokayukta, recommendation of Justice S R Nayak's name to the post of Lokayukta, rejection to give his assent to ordinance providing for reservation to Dalits in government tenders, ordinance establishing Rural Development University, etc. He said these proposals and bills were rejected without any valid reasons.

He said that the governor's way of functioning is against the interests of the people of the state. He charged Vala of acting like a representative of BJP and working against the Indian constitution, democratic principles and social justice. He stressed that it is the governor's duty to act as per the advice and recommendations of the ministry. He accused the governor of misusing his power, and the BJP of utilizing Raj Bhavan for playing politics.

"We believe that those who sent the governor here will sternly tell him to remain true to the ideals preached by our constitution. If not, he has no other go to face strong protest," he warned.

Chief whip of the government, Ashok M Pattana, and MLCs, H M Revanna and Abdul Jabbar, were present at the press conference.