Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Sep 1: Although the coordination committee meeting held on Friday cleared certain things including ministry expansion, verbal altercation happened there between former chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and the current one, H D Kumaraswamy, on the issues of pruning down rice being given under 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, and transfer of officials without taking ministers of the coalition partner into confidence, it is gathered.
When Siddaramaiah provided details about expansion of ministry and decision on committee meeting to the media, it gave the indication that everything was hunky dory at the meeting. It is said that Siddaramaiah directly questioned the chief minister about unilateral decisions being taken on the transfer of officials, Kumaraswamy retaliated, sources stated.
Siddaramaiah and H D Kumaraswamy
Siddaramaiah said that he has received complaints from ministers about officials being transferred without getting their nod, and that being a coalition government, the chief minister, who has discretionary powers of transfer, is expected to take coalition ministers into confidence before affecting them. Kumaraswamy retorted by saying that he knew how transfers were being affected in the past. After some heated words were exchanged by the two, state Congress in-charge Venugopal intervened, and asked the chief minister to take concerned ministers into confidence before transferring officials in key positions.
When Siddaramaiah objected to the reduction of monthly rice quota under 'Anna Bhagya' scheme to five kg from earlier seven kg, Kumaraswamy said it would be a burden on the government. Siddaramaiah angrily questioned him how can it be a burden to the government which is prepared to waive farm loan amounting to Rs 49,000 crore.
Siddaramaiah also demanded to implement the law to protect interests of SC/ST employees that is in the form of ordinance with Presidential approval, but Kumaraswamy said that a decision cannot be taken now as the case relating to this issue will come up before the Supreme Court on September 5. He mentioned that if any action is taken now, it might create problems later. He said that the government will move ahead based on what Supreme Court says. He also pointed out that relating to Sadashiva Commission too there is confusion as the then Congress government failed to take concrete steps. He said that at a time when people are feeling that the government is yet to take off, hasty decisions on sensitive issues like these should not be taken as they might prove detrimental. Siddaramaiah was not happy with this response, sources added.