Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Oct 25: Tourism minister, Janardan Reddy, expressed his annoyance at the functioning style of the Chief Minister (CM), Yeddyurappa, on Saturday October 24. This brought to the fore, the behind-the-scenes friction between the CM and the Reddy Brothers since the last some months.
Revenue minister Karunakar Reddy, tourism minister Janardan Reddy and health minister Sriramulu are angry about the shifting of Gadag district deputy commissioner, M N Prasad, considered close to them, by the CM, without consulting them. They are also opposed to the levying of flood-relief tax on ore trucks and handing over of the 'Asare' scheme for building homes for the flood-affected people to party’s Rajyasabha member, Rajiv Chandrashekhar. The Bellary camp is livid at the fact that the CM chose to totally snub them and took unilateral decisions in these cases.
The CM had sighted inefficiency in handling the flood situation, as the reason for the transfer of Prasad overnight. But Janardan Reddy feels that the CM took the decision to transfer Prasad, who was aptly handling the flood situation, out of momentary emotion and hence, termed it as not right. Janardan Reddy believes that both Karunakar Reddy and Sriramulu have been discharging their ministerial duties properly. He also opposed the levying of tax on ore trucks, in spite of the fact a FDT levy of Rs 150 per truck is being paid by them already. He also pointed out that mine owners have pledged to donate between Rs 400 to 500 crore for flood relief. A decision on the stand to be taken on the proposed tax will be taken soon by the mine owners, he explained.
The supporters of Reddy Brothers are also angry that Yeddyurappa, who undertook a seven-day tour of the flood-affected areas with revenue minister, Karunakar Reddy, chose to go to the areas alone from the eighth day onwards. They feel that the CM was afraid that Karunakar Reddy will gain publicity and attention, if he is involved with this work.
The other objection of the Reddy brothers is said to be the undesirable intervention in the departments allocated to them, by rural development minister, Shobha Karandlaje.
However, Yeddyurappa, speaking to reporters here on Saturday, termed the report of revolt on the part of the Reddy Brothers as false. He said that the ministers from Bellary have been cooperating with him in flood control measures and that the relation between the two continues to be normal. However, he evaded a question on the reported friction between him and the Reddy Brothers on the proposal to levy flood relief tax on ore trucks, by saying that secrecy needs to be maintained in respect of the proceedings in the cabinet meetings.