Beggars' Death Row: CM Changes Minister's Portfolio
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Aug 20: In a shock treatment to the social welfare minister D Sudhakar, who is facing flak from the opposition parties over the death of a total of 22 beggars at the Beggars Relief Centre at Magadi Road in the city and also to blunt the opposition attack, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has stripped the former of his portfolio and put him in charge of the Muzrai portfolio.
Sudhakar, the independent MLA, who was rewarded with a cabinet berth for extending unconditional support to the ruling BJP when the party fell marginally short of a clear majority in the state assembly in 2008 polls, is believed to be under pressure from his supporters to tender his resignation.
The minister, however, clarified that he was not contemplating any moves to quit and also made it clear that he had not held any meetings of his supporters following the chief minister’s decision to divest him of his social welfare department portfolio.
The chief minister, who returned to city from Bellary, effected the change of portfolios and entrusted the social welfare department to the minor irrigation minister Govind M Karjol as additional charge.
The chief minister, who is expected to visit the Beggars Rehabilitation Centre on Saturday for a personal inspection, has instituted a high-level probe into the entire episode by appointing Plan Administrator of Karnataka Health Services Development Project (KHSDP) S Selva Kumar, IAS officer.
Home minister Dr V S Acharya, who is considered a close confidant of the chief minister, has been holding additional charge of the Muzrai department, which is considered the ''most unwanted portfolio” in view of the recent record of none of the ministers not surviving in the post for long. The most recent examples of the holders of Muzrai portfolio to lose their posts are S N Krishnaiah Setty and V Somanna.
Apart from divesting Sudhakar of his portfolio and entrusting him with inconsequential Muzrai portfolio, the chief minister taken a series of disciplinary measures with immediate effect including suspension of Krishnegowda, secretary of Beggars Relief Centre for accommodating the beggars, pending further inquiry.
The joint director of backward classes department Ramaiah has been appointed as the in-charge officer of the Centre Relief Centre with immediate effect.