Pics: Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Nov 29: President of Shiriyar gram panchayat in the district, Jyoti, held protest demonstration in front of the office of the district complex on Tuesday November 29, alleging that gram panchayat members and officials of taluk and zilla panchayat have ganged up against her with the sole objective of unseating her from her position.

Jyoti said in a letter addressed to the president and chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat that since the day she assumed charge as the president of the said panchayat, she has been discharging her duties sincerely and honestly and running corruption-free administration. "Some members of the panchayat, who have been unable to appreciate my honestly and integrity and the fact that I belong to scheduled caste, have remained away from attending seven to eight consecutive gram panchayat meetings, thus blocking development activities. After panchayat development officer (PDO), Ganapa Mogaveera, joined hands with these members and wrote to higher officials, he was suspended for misuse of power. Complaints have been sent against the absentee gram panchayat members to taluk panchayat, zilla panchayat and state election commission," she has explained in the said letter.

Jyoti says that the members and officials of taluk and zilla panchayats, who were expected to take up with the state election commission the matter of taking legal action against erring members of the panchayat in tune with the earlier complaint, have passed a resolution in the taluk panchayat to dissolve the gram panchayat although no such agenda was listed. She claims that this unconstitutional proposal was also added by the zilla panchayat in its November 29 meeting agenda for dissolution of the gram panchayat. She said these efforts are part of conspiracy aimed at her removal from the post to ensure that a dalit woman does not continue as gram panchayat president and to scuttle reservation facility.

She has requested the zilla panchayat president and chief executive officer to consider the issue in all seriousness and drop the proposal to pass the unconstitutional and anti-dalit resolution to dissolve the gram panchayat. She also has pleaded with the concerned to send recommendation to the state election commission to annul the membership of the absentee gram panchayat members.

Anand Naik has been appointed as new PDO now.

Jyoti also adds that she is under pressure to approve illegal works, has experienced pressure from members and has faced threat to her life Jyoti is from Congress. The GP has strength of 13 members with 5 Congress, 6 BJP and 2 independents. Independents have supported her though vice president Shukra is not supportive. She says whenever a meeting is called, it is not attended.

Jyoti says an appeal submitted to Halady Srinivas Shetty did not get proper response. She proudly says that her father-in-law and mother-in-law have supported her and stood by her.