Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Feb 25: District youth Congress president, Vishwas Ameen, addressed a press meet today where he accused Udupi and Dakshina Kannada District Fish Marketting Federation of getting involved with diesel scandal running into crores of rupees.

Holding its chairman, Yashpal Suvarna, responsible for this state of affairs, Ameen demanded that as the COD team, which is currently holding investigation into misappropriation of funds, has members who are themselves involved with wrongdoing,should be withdrawn. He demanded that this team should be dismantled, roles played by the members of this team should be thoroughly investigated, and a fresh probe into the fish federation's siphoning of funds should be ordered.

Ameen said that he would be sending copy of his plea to the state home minister and that he will also personally meet the minster to persuade him to meet the demands listed by him.

Vishwas Ameen accused leader of the opposition in legislative council and BJP leader, Kota Srinivas Poojary, of misusing his power. He charged Poojary with not standing by the fishermen and protecting Yashpal Suvarna in spite of the latter's fund misapproriation. He demanded a high powered investigation into the irregularities concerning the federation as the current investigating officials themselves are hand in glove with Suvarna.

Ameen said that crores of rupees had been diverted from diesel bunks run by the federation through high profile irregularities, which not only deceived the government but also hurt the sentiments of fishermen. He said that in her investigation report conducted in 2014-15, assistant director of fisheries, Anjana Devi, had confirmed the irregularities happening in diesel bunks located at Mangaluru, Hejamady, Udupi, Hangarkatta and Gangolli. He said that the board officials, who kept the passbooks of fishermen with themselves instead of distributing them to fishermen, sold less diesel but accounted for more. The diesel supplied at concessional rate by the government was sold by the authorities in black market for a high price, thus depriving the government of its legitimate funds, he said.

Local block Congress president, Yatish Karkera, and Congress OBC cell president, Satish Ameen Padukere, were present.