Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 17: Even as standoff between health and medical education ministers over handling of coronavirus control is concerned continues, cold war between minister for horticulture Narayana Gowda and minister for cooperation S T Somashekhar, seems to have been triggered.

On Thursday, a meeting had been convened under the leadership of deputy chief minister, Dr Ashwath Narayan, to discuss steps needed for undertaking transportation and marketing of agriculture and horticulture products because of lockdown. Narayana Gowda is said to have registered his protest against interference in his department by Somashekhar. This gave rise to verbal friction between the two ministers concerned.

When Narayana Gowda objected to interference in horticulture department, Somashekhar tried to justify himself by saying that horticulture also falls under the department of cooperation. Thereafter, Ashwath Narayan pacified both the ministers, it is learnt.

When approached for comments, minster for cooperation, Somashekhar, said that these are minor things which are bound to happen and there is no need to attach importance to them.