Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Jan 22: “The eviction of people who had set up homes at Naidaguri in Sulkeri is in tune with legal provisions. I have nothing new to learn from the MP, former MLA, and BJP leaders. I will not visit the spot of the incident. If these leaders have the power to force me to visit that place, I challenge them to prove their clout by doing so,” thundered local MLA, K Vasant Bangera, He was addressing a press conference here on Friday January 21.
Bangera said that he has been informed by the revenue department that the officials had evicted the families from their bases, after serving notices on them. “They have done everything as per legal provisions. Neither the district in-charge minister, MP, former and present MLA, have any powers to stop such drives. Those who have been driven out of their bases, have land and house in Kutloor village. Why did they come to Sulkeri and occupy government land? Ramachandra Bhat and Sadanand from Naravi have played a role in making them come here. They have done this with an eye on earning commission,” he claimed.
Bangera stressed that he will never help anyone who goes against law, and that he does not need to learn anything from the MP and BJP leaders. “The MP is not my master. What standing the MP, the former MLA, and other BJP leaders have, to speak against me?” he questioned.
Block Congress president, Harish Kumar, challenged the BJP government to provide justice to affected people within 90 days. He said that his party will do what it needs to do thereafter.
Party leaders, Ramachandra Gowda, zilla panchayat member, Shylesh Kumar, Rajashekhar Ajri, Srinivas Kini, and others were present at the press conference.
In the meanwhile, a police case has been registered against nine persons, for driving away six Malekudiya families belonging to scheduled tribes, on January 13. The complainants have named a few revenue officials and some others, about robbing cash from their houses and injuring three persons, during the clearance drive, in Venur police station. Assistant superintendent of police, Amit Singh, visited the spot on Friday.
The Malekudiyas say that the petition made by a few residents of Sulkeri for evicting the six families, addressed to Aladangady panchayat, had been received by the tahsildar, who ordered for their eviction without conducting spot inspection. They say they are even prepared to name the tahsildar in their police complaint. Beltangady Taluk Malekudiyara Sangha has in the meantime, written to the Chief Minsiter, to arrest the erring officials under Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.