I Never Interfered in Functioning of Any Ministers - Shobha

From Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore, Oct 26: Unperturbed by the diatribe against her by Bellary mining lords, including Karnataka’s cabinet ministers G Karunakar Reddy, G Janardhana Reddy and their close confidant B Sriramulu, Rural Development Minister Shobha Karandlaje has stoutly denied the allegations regarding her interference in Revenue Department or in the portfolios of any other ministers.

Responding to questions from reporters on the widespread political speculation on the reported moves by the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and other senior ruling BJP leaders to elevate her as the president of the state party unit in the place of Udupi Lok Sabha member D V Sadananda Gowda, who will be retiring soon, Shobha made it categorically clear that she was not interested in becoming the president of State BJP.

"I am not an aspirant for the president of the State BJP,’’ she said clarifying: `` I had served as the general secretary. If the party leaders request me, I am ready to become the general secretary again.’’

The four-phase organisational polls of the BJP State unit are scheduled to commence from November 1 and conclude on either December 15 or 17 with the election of the new State president.

The minister, who has been the target of criticism not just by the Bellary mining lords and other party leaders, felt there were several senior leaders in the party to head the state unit BJP.  ``I am least interested in taking up such onerous responsibility,’’ she said pointing out that she did not know how the media was indulging in such baseless speculation.

Shobha asserted that she had never interfered in the functioning of any ministers. ``I have discharged my duties and responsibilities assigned to me to the best of my abilities, be it as district in-charge minister of Mysore, supervising the Dasara festivities and the Talakad celebrations,’’ she said.

She also made it clear that she had enough work in handling her responsibilities as minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. ``Why should I interfere in the work of others or in the functioning of other departments?,’’ she said asking the media to check with those making baseless allegations against her.

"It is up to them to come out with proof regarding my interference. Let them cite at least one example,’’ she said.

Claiming that there was no dissidence or serious crisis within the ruling party as was made out by the media, Shobha said asserting that the Chief Minister was quite capable of handling any problems or misunderstanding. ``The biggest challenge before the government is handling the herculean task of rehabilitation of the lakhs of people affected by the floods and reconstructing more than three lakh houses in the next six to nine months,’’ she said.

Contrary to the claims by the minister, the Bellary mining lords along with their supporting like ministers Anand Asnotikar, Balachandra Jarkiholi and Shivanagouda Naik and some of the dissident legislators, held a meeting at the residence of Karunakar Reddy. It is difficult to predict how far the situation will deteriorate and whether the chief minister will be able to stem the rot.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Upparpet police have registered a criminal case for alleged kidnapping and other charges against the youngest brother of the Reddy’s, G Somashekar Reddy, MLA from Bellary and Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) chairman.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had entrusted the task of briefing the media after the state cabinet meetings, which is normally handled by the information minister who happens to be Katta Subramanya Naidu, right from the beginning. The Bellary mining lords, who had raised the banner of revolt against Yeddyurappa around the time when the BJP regime completed its first year in office, the chief minister was compelled to divest Shobha of the additional responsibility.

However, instead of allowing Naidu to handle the media briefing after the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister had entrusted the responsibility to his close confidant and home minister Dr V S Acharya. Now, the Reddy trio have targeted not just Shobha but also Dr Acharya. They have also questioned Yeddyurappa’s decision of transferring the deputy commissioner of Davangere district Dr Prasad, who is considered quite close to Sriramulu without even consulting the revenue minister, and also in appointing the Rajya Sabha MP, Rajiv Chandrashekar, as the chief of ``Asare,’’ programme for reconstruction of houses to the flood-affected people.

Answering questions from reporters on the resignation of the Director of Nataka Karnataka Rangayana B Jayashree, Shobha, who is also in the district charge minister for Mysore, said the chief minister would hold talks with artistes and Ms Jayashree to settle the differences amicably.

"The Kannada and Culture Department comes under the Chief Minister and he is the final authority to take a decision,’’ she said.

The minister said 150 villages in flood hit districts of north Karnataka have been facing drinking water problem and water was being supplied through tankers everyday. Life was returning to normal in the 15 flood hit districts and villagers have commenced agricultural operations.

The drinking water supply in the problem villages would be restored in a four to five days. However, drinking water sources were totally polluted in eight villages, she said.

On allegations about non-payment of compensation to households who had lost their houses and crops, she said deputy commissioners have been instructed to conduct surveys again to identify properties damaged in the floods.

The department would be spending Rs 1800 crore on various works in flood affected villages. Roads, houses, and drainages would be constructed under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act, she said.

To a question on the demolition of illegal structures in Mysore City on Sunday, she said the operation was taken up for the benefit of the people of the city. The public has opposed the construction of illegal structures on footpaths. The Mysore City Corporation in conjunction with the Mysore Urban Development Authority, district administration, the city police demolished illegal structures, she added.