Bangalore: After Reddy Brothers, Yeddy’s Relief to Siddu

From Our Special Correpondent
Daijiworld Media Network
 
Bangalore, Jun 26:  Quick on the heels of its decision to withdraw the criminal cases pending against the Bellary mining lords comprising ministers G Janardhana Reddy and G Karunakar Reddy, the B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP regime has extended the same favour to Siddaramiah,  newly installed Congress opposition leader in the Karnataka assembely, by dropping all pending cases against his supporters.

The Yeddyurappa regime, which came under lot of criticism from KPCC president R V Deshpande and working president D K Shivakumar for withdrawal of cases against the Bellary mining lords, has decided to withdraw a total of 17 cases registered against the supporters of Siddaramaiah who were involved in an agitation at a foundation stone laying ceremony for a hospital at Jayapura village on the outskirts of Mysore on March 31, 2007 during the regime of former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Karnataka’s home minister Dr V S Acharya, who briefed the media after the state cabinet meeting, said the cases had been registered when Siddaramaiah and his supporters, including Mysore Zilla and taluks Panchayat members, took serious exception to the exclusion of their names from the invitation cards for the ceremony.

The former deteputy chief minister, who had quit JD(S) and got reelected on the Congress ticket from the Chamundeshwari assembly constituency.

Dr Acharya said there were totally 22 cases against Siddaramaiah’s supporters and the Corps of Detectives  (CoD) found no substance in five cases. Based on the findings of CoD, the Cabinet decided to withdraw the 17 cases, the minister said.

When contacted Siddaramaiah said he had raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly a few months ago and written to the Government seeking withdrawal of false cases against his supporters. ``These 17 cases are insignificant compared to withdrawal of cases against supporters of Reddy brothers,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Congress Opposition leader in the Legislative Council V S Ugrappa, while addressing a separate news conference, demanded that the Election Commission and the Governor should take cognizance of withdrawal of criminal cases against supporters of Reddy bothers and take steps to drop them from the Cabinet.

``Most of the criminal cases were related to electoral offences conducted during the 2008 legislative assembly elections. All these are electoral offences under Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code,’’ he said.

Ugrappa alleged that the chief minister had withdrawn the cases out of ``fear of losing power’’ and warned that the Congress would launch an agitation inside and outside the state Legislature if the Yeddyurappa government failed to provide convincing explanation for withdrawal of cases.

In a separate news conference, KPCC president R V Deshpandce took severe objection to Yeddyurappa’s choice of a private resort as the venue for two-day interaction with ministers and top officials on administrative issues starting from tomorrow, terming the exercise as a drain on exchequer when the coffers are empty. 

``Where is the need for travelling to a resort for a meeting at the cost of state exchequer at a time when the state faced resource crunch. Is there is no place for a meeting at Vidhana Soudha or Vikas Soudha,’’ he asked.

``If Yeddyurappa wants to take rest at a resort, I have no objection. If it is for a review meeting at the cost of the state, then I object to it most vehemently with all the force at my command,’’ he said alleging that the state administration has totally collapsed.

Deshpande also urged the government to undertake joint survey of mining areas on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh borders.   ``BJP government has no interest to hold elections to Bruhut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike,’’ he charged and contended that the government was trying its best to postpone the elections under one pretext or the other.