Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Mar 23: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje on Wednesday March 23 accused the state government of trying to make the Lokayukta 'toothless' by establishing the Anti-Corruption Bureau and said that it was an attempt to 'mislead' the people on the issue of corruption.

Addressing a press meet here, Shobha said, "Chief minister Siddaramaiah has made Lokayukta toothless and is slowly killing the Lokayukta institution itself. The state government is misleading the society and trying to close corruption cases by doing this.

"The CM is behaving like he himself is the high command. He should withdraw the Anti-Corruption Bureau and instead concentrate on strengthening the Lokayukta," she said.

On the recent murder of BJP activist Raju in Mysuru, she alleged, "KFD activists are directly responsible for Raju's murder. The government has failed to arrest the murderers inspite of having CCTV footage as evidence.

"The state government is supporting murderers and protecting the minority community," she added.

Commenting on the state budget she said, "This year's state budget shows no change from last year's. In fact, it has gone against the people's expectations. The chief minister has given less importance to agriculture and rural development. He never speaks on the problems of farmers and drought. The state government is just making excuses instead of taking up development works."

She further added, "The central government has given priority to agriculture and rural development. The Prime Minister has released additional funds under the 14th Finance Commission as well. He has also laid emphasis on development through his dream projects like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Start-up India, Skill India and so on.

"The central government has released Rs 1,520 crore to the state government to be distributed in drought affected areas, but the funds have not been disbursed yet due to lack of guidelines.

"CM Siddaramaiah has announced a Rs 1,62,000-crore budget this year. The state government is getting Rs 22,000 crore as funds from the central government. The budget for this year is a huge amount. Tax is being collected, but despite all this, no development works are being carried out," she claimed.

"Krishna river is gradually drying up, and so also other rivers like Cauvery and Sharavati. None of the above issues have been discussed in any of the cabinet meetings so far," she added.

Regarding Ambalpady and Brahmavar national highway work, MP Shobha said she has instructed engineers to make a study of the same and look into their feasibility. She has already discussed the matter with union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari, the NHAI officials and the district authorities, she said.

"The state should work on upgrading Charmadi Ghat to a national highway which will connect Udupi to Chikkmagaluru," she added.

Uday Kumar Shetty, Shyamala Kundar, Geethanjali Suvarna and others were present.