Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Aug 12: "It is the duty and responsibility of the state government to announce support price for areca nut. The union government does not have anything to do with this issue. Still, if the state government shows step-motherly attitude towards the areca nut growers, the central government will have no other go but to intervene in the matter," said union law minister M Veerappa Moily.
Speaking to reporters in Puttur on Tuesday August 11, Moily did not agree with the claim of the state government that the central government has not been extending cooperation to the state, in the matter of fixing support price for areca nut, clarifying that the subject is within the state government's powers.
He explained, that efforts are being made to make certain changes in the Indian Penal Code, to avoid situations in which the women might not be able to get protection by making use of the laws specifically enacted to protect their interests and also to achieve the purpose of ensuring that the laws do not remain male-dominated.
On the issue of Netravati River Diversion Project, he felt that both the views, in support and against the project, are not justified. This project, if undertaken, requires a very long time to complete. “Hence, without conducting an in-depth study into the pros and cons of this project, I would not like to express any opinion,” he added.
He took exception to the comments being made by certain officials during routine discussions, that 'law is silent in this particular issue'. He clarified that law is not silent on any of the subjects. If the officials want to take shelter under the guise of these statements, it clearly means that the officials concerned have failed in discharging their duties, he felt.
Puttur Block Congress Committee president A Hemanath Shetty, opposition leader in the local municipality K H Mohammedali, zilla panchayat members K K Shahul Hamid and Anita Hemanath Shetty, municipal councillor Nillikatte Jagadish Shetty and several other leaders were present.