Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Apr 2: Lambasting the state government over various issues and alleging complete 'administrative failure', the district unit of JD(S) on Saturday April 2 demanded the dissolution of the Congress government and imposition of President's rule in the state.
Addressing a press meet here, JD(S) district president Mohammed Kunhi said, "The Congress government has failed to provide able administration and is also involved in corruption. Chief minister Siddaramaiah has formed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in order to destabilize the Lokayukta, to protect corrupt politicians and to subdue the opposition. This is nothing but to encourage corruption, and JD(S) strongly condemns it.
"Congress leaders like S M Krishna, Janardhan Poojary and Mallikarjun Kharge are themselves opposing the ACB. The chief minister has formed ACB under the guidance of advisor Kempaiah who is also a corrupt officer and whose case was with the Lokayukta. Later Bhaskar Rao who was the Lokayukta filed the B report and dropped the case," he said.
On the second PU chemistry re-exam paper leak, he said, "This has happened because of the tuition mafia and a few private institutions. The government is saying it will hand over the case to COD. A few officers have been suspended and the PU board director transferred, but this nothing but an eyewash.
"Education minister Kimmane Ratnakar should resign. As Congress party's own leader Janardhan Poojary said, Ratnakar should be dropped from the cabinet. Though the question paper has leaked twice, the minister is still giving irresponsible statements," he added.
"The Congress made many promises in its manifesto, but they are yet to be fulfilled. People in rural areas and farmers are suffering without electricity and water. To get water, they have to walk for kilometres together. The sand mafia is rampant, and sand prices have skyrocketed. The poor cannot build house. All in all, the state administration has completely failed.
"We have a good deputy commissioner in the district, but MLAs like Mohiuddin Bava, J R Lobo and Shakuntala Shetty are trying to transfer him. There are four ministers from the coastal region, but they keep giving contradictory statements on various issues. There is misappropriation funds of Wakf board. Hence, considering all these issues, the state government should be dissolved and President's rule should be imposed. The corruption in the Congress government is more than that during BJP's tenure in the state," he said.
JD(S) leader Amarnath Shetty said, "The Lokayukta is a powerful body. People like Justice Santosh Hegde did a good job as Lokayukta. But now, by forming ACB, the government is doing injustice. People are in a state of confusion. Instead of forming the ACB, the government should strengthen the Lokayukta. We do not want ACB - this is the demand of the people, the opposition and of people within the Congress itself."
On the second PU question paper leak, Shetty said, "Instead of mere suspension, the officers should be sent to jail. Suspension will not help. The officers should be expelled and stringent action should be taken."
He also lambasted the government over the unavailibility of sand and called for imposition of President's rule in the state.
Advocate Chengappa, Vasanth Poojary, Azeez Kudroli and others were present.