Congressmen attack minister for `mishandling' KMF affairs

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, NOV. 10. It was one of the fiercest attacks on a minister in the Legislative Assembly and, interestingly, it came from the ruling party members. Congress(I) members today took the Cooperation Minister, Mr. D.K. Shivakumar, to task for the way in which he was handling the affairs of the Karnataka Milk Federation.

The attack on the minister arose out of a reply given by him to Mr. C.M. Lingappa and Mr. B. Shivaram (Cong-I), Mr. H.S. Puttaranganath (BJP) and Mr. A. Manju (suspended BJP member) about the quantum of loans extended by the Government to KMF.

Mr. Lingappa alleged that the minister had no control over the federation and failed to check the irregularities being committed there.

To this, the minister replied that the very fact that he had obtained information from the federation and was replying to the question was proof that he wielded control.

Then it was the turn of the Secretary of the Congress(I) legislature party, Mr. S. Kariyanna, to level the serious allegation that the federation had procured animal feed worth Rs. 100 crores without inviting tenders. Making a personal allegation against the minister, he said a Scheduled Caste officer in the federation, Mr. Hanumanthappa, who in the past had expressed his inability to serve in Bellary and had been denied a posting for two years, had now been dismissed from service.

The minister told him to table a separate question. He had only just come to know about the case of Mr. Hanumanthappa and no personal knowledge.

The BJP frontbencher, Mr. K.H. Hanume Gowda, demanded to know how so many irregularities could take place in the federation when the minister claimed that he was in control of its affairs. The Chairman of the federation had acted dictatorially in dismissing the SC officer.

To this, the minister said he would examine how justice could be done to that officer.

Another Congress (I) member, Mr. Y.K. Ramaiah, also spoke of the large-scale misuse of funds and irregularities going on in the federation.

At one point, Mr. C.M. Lingappa, wondered whether the minister was telling the truth.

The House also witnessed the Janata Dal (U) member, Mr. Bachche Gowda attempting to go to the rescue of the minister. He maintained that he was doing so as he was a former minister for animal husbandry and veterinary services.

Later the Speaker, Mr. M.V. Venkatappa, agreed to allow a half- hour discussion on the subject.

In his written reply, Mr. Shivakumar said the Government had extended a loans totalling Rs. 30.56 crores to KMF.

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