Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 23: A protest was organized at deputy commissioner's office here on Friday November 23 under the aegis of zilla panchayat state cell of BJP.

Addressing the protesters, MP, Shobha Karandlaje, said that since the last five months, people have often been getting the suspicion about the very existence of the state government. She said that Yeddyurappa and MLC, Kota Srinivas Poojary, have the responsibility of repeatedly whipping the government out of its deep slumber and making it work.

She said that the behaviour of the chief minister of late has left much to be desired. "The farmers of the state have been on protest day and night since the last six days. The chief minister showed his poor class by making remarks which were unbecoming of a chief minister. He insulted the farmers and did not allow the farmers to express their grievances," she stated.

She said that Mathai, a sincere officer with Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, has been transferred again although he was sincere and efficient. Governments keep changing, but the officials are permanent. Mathai was very honest. But he has been transferred 20 times," she stated, accusing the government of not respecting hard work and sincerity.

Karandlaje said that the government is not responding to women's woes. Although ten taluks have been declared as drought-hit, no drought relief works have been undertaken and this field has been neglected, she said.

About loan waiver scheme announced in the state budget at a total cost of Rs 49,900 crore, she noted that no one in the state has got its benefit so far. She wanted to know where has the money set aside by the chief minister for the purpose has gone. She noted that funds from local area development fund cannot be allocated for the purpose as the government has not yet set the process rolling.

"Scholarships have been either pruned down or scrapped in the name of loan waiver. Development works have come to a standstill. Whenever the issue of development is raised, they give out a list of Bhagyas announced earlier. The government is not interested in any development. Schemes are not being implemented. No services are being provided in Sakala scheme. At the same time, the government is showing interest in purchasing things like for Yettinahole project, and allowing the things to go waste by failure to maintain them, she added.

She said that the only major work going on now is acceptance of bribe. "Bapuji Seva Kendra and Sakala have to be strengthened, but they are neglected. The government says a hundred services are offered through these centers, but unless the government notices what is happening, it will not know that these centers are not at all working. The winter session of the assembly will begin with protests," she said.

Former MP, Jayaprakash Hegde, said that 'Sakala' has now become 'Akaala'. He wanted the officials to attend to various problems afflicting these centers.

MLC, Kota Srinivas Poojary, said that both former and current chief ministers are interested in retaining their powers and not doing anything for the benefit of the people. He said that getting services in Bapuji and Sakala centers has become a problem. He noted that issuance of RTCs has also stopped at these centers. "Bapuji has been insulted by keeping his name to these centers. The government has been unable to fulfill its own promises. For example, the much-touted loan waiver scheme for farmers has not been extended. The actual face of the people claiming themselves as sons of soil has been laid bare before the people now," he stated. He also criticized the government for failing to make headway in schemes like employment guarantee scheme.

"The state government has lost its credibility. The deputy commissioner should instruct the officials to receive applications at Bapuji Seva Kendras and dispose them of without delay," he urged.

Karkala MLA, Sunil Kumar, said that the government is indirectly withdrawing one service after the other. He challenged the government to give the name of any one centre where the 100 services mentioned by the government are being provided, and offered to give an award to such a centre. He regretted that even major work of 9-11 is not also being attended.

Convener of the cell, Sanoor Narasimha Kamath, said that the hundred services in these centers the government had promised have been reduced to just three. All the centers are suffering from technical faults, and he said that the party leaders will fight till a logical conclusion is found to problems like absence of scanners, internet, server, printer etc. He noted that even when the MPs provide equipment from funds, because of absence of internet and other things they become wasteful.

He added that Kota Srinivasa Poojary will lead agitation against this failure and writ will be filed in the high court about the failure of these centers to provide services.

Dinakar Babu, president, zilla panchayat, Sheela K Shetty, vice-president, zilla panchayat, Lalaji Mendon, Kaup MLA, Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, district BJP president, Reshma Uday Kumar Shetty, Nalini Shetty, Nalini Pradeep Rao, Geethanjali Suvarna, Thingale Vikramarjuna Hegde, Shrikanth Shetty, presidents of panchayats, and others were present.