Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Jan 30: Tension prevailed when elected representatives in the leadership of taluk panchayat president accompanied by former minister visited Sarapadi where the Multi village drinking water project is to be inaugurated on Sunday. There were arguments and scuffle between BJP and Congress activists.

Bantwal town and rural station sub-inspector Avinash, Prasanna and staff intervened and brought the situation under control. There was a tussle between BJP leaders and Congress activists. There was a slogan shouting against both the parties.

Congress activists pulled the gate of the unit alleging that police supported BJP activists. Police officials intervened, pushed the Congress activists aside and provided security in front of the gate.

The engineer did not pick the phone when taluk panchayat president and district panchayat president telephoned him. Taluk panchayat president Chandrahas Karkera expressed anguish because of it.

Bantwal police circle inspector Nagaraj who heard that the situation was going out of hand arrived and succeeded in sending BJP activists away. Congress activists and elected representatives gathered in front of the gate.

Bantwal taluk panchayat president Chandrahas Karkera said that the hindrance by the police and BJP activists when he arrived to see the unit is an insult to democracy.

Former minister B Ramanath Rai said that preventing taluk panchayat, district panchayat and gram panchayat members from inspecting the drinking water unit shows the bankruptcy of BJP.

Rai said that he has become MLA six times and three times minister. “As per the information received by me the work of the unit is incomplete. Therefore, taluk panchayat president and elected representatives are not allowed to inspect the unit,” he said.