Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 1: Union labour minister Mallikarjun Kharge has advised state Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to stop blabbering about the so-called step-motherly treatment being meted out by the union government to the state, and start to work on the principle of mutual cooperation as far as development issues of the state are concerned.

Addressing reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence here on Sunday May 31, Kharge stressed that passing the bucks and levelling unfound allegations repeatedly will not yield anything. No one approves of a situation in which politics is involved in developmental matters.

Yeddyurappa has made it a habit to cast aspersions on the central government. If he continues to speak in a complaining tone day in and day out, there will no one to take notice of his rhetoric. So, he should shift his stance and extend cooperation to the centre in the matter of development, he advised.

"If the central government has shown partisan attitude against Karnataka government, crores of rupees would not have been sanctioned to it for the development of small and medium towns. Where has this fund gone? Did it go to Ramanagar or Shikaripur?" he questioned.

To a question as to whether more representation was given to the state in the union cabinet for strengthening the party here, he said he would discharge the responsibilities honestly and that his aim would be to justify the confidence reposed on him. "I have taken over charge of the department just now. I will draft programmes on the basis of the assurances given to the people in the party manifesto and taking into account the budgetary support, which the Prime Minister has assured to revise upwardly. Protecting the interests of the unorganized labourers will be my first priority. A bill relating to their welfare has already been passed by the parliament and I will take steps to give it the shape of an act," he explained.

He said, he will evince interest in opening of ESI Medical College in Gulbarga, as promised by the previous labour minister Oscar Fernandes, if the state government sanctions land for the same. "In the city, foundation stone for the ESI Medical College has already been laid and tender process will begin soon. There are plans to set up a super speciality hospital either in the city or Bellary," he revealed.