Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Nov 19: In the backdrop of repeated incidents of violence at Ullal and surrounding areas, chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday November 19 assured that strict action would be taken against those who try to disrupt communal harmony in the district.
Speaking to reporters at Circuit House here during his visit to the city to inaugurate the new Congress office and participate in the party convention, Siddaramaiah said, "I have already directed the police officials to take strict action against anyone who creates communal disturbance. These communal goondas won't be spared. We will take stringent action against them."
On the demonetisation move by the central government, the CM said, "We have already welcomed the decision to demonetise the high currency notes, but there are many flaws in its implementation. Rs 2,000 notes have been given out without making arrangements to circulate adequate change - this itself is foolish.
"A lot of people are standing in queues, and most of them are from middle class and poor families. Have you seen any rich person standing in queue at the banks? I have written to the PM and the finance minister but there has been no response from their end. It is unfortunate that many deaths have occured due to monetisation. I have also asked the PM to make it mandatory for private hospitals to accept the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes," he said.
Asked if the state government would provide compensation for the kin of those who died standing in queues, he said, "No, we will not. It is a decision from the centre, so how can the state government give compensation?"
On whether the state government would take any step to ease the situation created by demonetisation, Siddaramaiah said, "It is a decision taken by the central government. We do not have any authority to take any step of our own in this regard."
To a question on minister Tanveer Sait who was caught watching porn during the recent Tipu Jayanti celebrations in Raichur, he said, "We have already asked the cyber crime department to investigate. Once the report is out, we will decide on the further course of action."
Responding to senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary's criticism of the party celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi, Siddaramaiah said, "Poojary gave his personal opinion. We are celebrating the centenary with the party funds and not as a government progamme. Congress is a democratic party where there is individual freedom unlike in BJP."