Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 27: In response to comments passed by the Congress party leaders like state working president D K Shivakumar and president R V Deshpande about the government’s decision to hold interactive session with officials at a resort here, chief minster B S Yeddurappa said, the government had chosen to conduct interactive sessions at a resort on the outskirts of the city, to be able to thoroughly consider the development of the state, away from the din. He wanted his detractors to understand that the session is being held in all seriousness and that those participating in the session were not going there to have fun or frolic. The session is being held on June 27 and 28.

"R V Deshpande and D K Shivakumar are senior leaders, backed by the experience of being in positions of power. Compared to them, I am new. I do not feel it necessary to reply to every comment they have made. I just like to add that we are going to the resort not to enjoy," he reiterated.

The discussions at the resort will centre on giving a new angle to the state's development. The government proposes to bring thorough changes in the administrative machinery, he explained. The officials have been asked to draw up plans about administrative changes necessary and to come up with problems if any they face in ensuring that the benefits of the schemes reach the beneficiaries. We also would like to know as to whether any legal amendments are necessary in this direction, from the officials, he explained. Administrative reforms and speeding up development will be the two core subjects of interactions, he explained.

About the withdrawal of cases against Siddaramaiah, he informed that the Congress leader had written two letters to the government, requesting it to withdraw cases standing against him. "As he is the leader of the opposition in the assembly, we thought it fit to relieve him of the burden of having to face cases. There is no politics involved in this decision," Yeddyurappa clarified.

About the letter purported to have been written to the centre on the development of Hyderabad-Karnataka region, the chief minister adopted the stand that discussions will be held in the floor of the assembly, not with the media.