Mangalore: BJP Has No Respect for Lokayukta Institution - Cong
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/SB)
Mangalore, Dec 8: At a protest held by the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee in front of the DC’s office on Wednesday December 8 to oppose the treatment shown towards lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hedge by the state government, MLA Ramanath Rai termed BJP's stance insulting.
He observed that as most of the MLAs from BJP are tainted in one or the other scams, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his followers are weakening the lokayukta institution by not extending their support for its smooth functioning. He alleged that the state CM Yeddyurappa is mainly responsible for Hegde’s resignation months back. The act of some of the BJP leaders to prevent lokayukta probe in the land scam issues shows that they have no sense of respect towards lokayukta, he added.
He said that the contribution to the nation by Santhosh Hegde and his family is notable and people are always with him. He said no one should tolerate the corruption by the BJP government. He called Nitin Gadkari as ‘Amul Baby’ alleging that he has been unable to take any stern action against the corrupt government in the state, he asaid and expressed apprehension over Gadkari being forced to do so by some vested interests in the party.
People are not able to buy lands in Shimoga due to high price as most of the land in city is already purchased by CM Yeddyurappa, he remarked sarcastically.
In his address, Harikrishna Bantwal, secretary of the district unit of the Congress said that the condition that prevailed in Bihar during Lalu’s governance is no different from the condition prevailing in Karnataka. He alleged that Yeddyurappa by distributing cheap quality sarees to mothers has insulted women in state. He added BJP who defended itself by saying it is in favour of poor people now has increased the electricity by 30 paisa per unit. He criticized the government for announcing the conduct of zilla and taluk panchayat polls after denying social justice to the people belonging to the backward classes and minority communities. He said 124 backward communities are cheated in the process.
He condemned the statement of Eshwarappa for calling lokayukta Santhosh Hegde a Congressman. He called Eshwarappa as demon (Bhasmasura) of BJP who himself and thereby will destroy the party.
Cong Opposition Only a Lipservice?
However it is unfortunate to notice that even if corruption is grown so rampantly, most of the protestors and leaders today seemed to be show-offs posing for photos. It was very sad that nobody was wilfully in a mood to voice a strong opposition against corruption.
The protest that was supposed to start at 10.30 am was delayed by an hour due to district Congress president’s late arrival. It was also seen that many present at the programme to support the issue that Congress was supposed to raise were disillusioned and complained witnessing more than 100 chairs on the dais by the organizers in a bid to feel important.
Moreover, it was ironic that the protest was held under the shamiyana.
Congress leaders M G Hegde and Ivan D'Souza among others were present.