The Hindu : JD(S) intensifies agitation against Labour Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 15, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

JD(S) intensifies agitation against Labour Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

GULBARGA Sept. 14. The Janata Dal (Secular) on Sunday launched an indefinite relay hunger strike in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here demanding the dismissal of the Labour Minister, Qamar-ul-Islam, from the S.M. Krishna Ministry and criminal action against him for his alleged role in an attempt to grab a prime plot reserved for a park at Survey No. 12 of Badepur locality in Gulbarga city.

The former Leader of the Opposition in the Gulbarga City Corporation Council, Prakash Benkanalli, Sheikh Abdul Hameed, Arjun Kapur, and Mallinath Ghajre began the strike in the presence of the former Minister, S.K. Kanta, who has been staging a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office since August 25 demanding the same.

The party has announced that if its demand for the protection of the parkland and the withdrawal of the resolution passed by the Gulbarga Development Authority (GDA) recommending to the Government a change in the use of the said land is not conceded within a week, a fast-unto-death programme will be launched a week later.

Addressing the agitators, Mr. Kanta said the said land was reserved for a public park, playground and other public purposes in the Comprehensive Development Plant (CDP) prepared by the GDA. But in contravention to the CDP, and against all rules and regulations, Government Orders, and court judgements, the GDA passed a resolution on May 26 recommending the change of the use of the land from a public park to a residential locality. He alleged that even before a change of the use of the land had been permitted, an illegal layout was formed, and sites were sold to the public. Several illegal structures had come up on the land without the permission of the authorities concerned.

Mr. Kanta said the said land at Survey No. 12 of Badepur locality originally belonged to one Gulam Dastagir, but after his death recently, a group of persons had, by claiming to be holders of power of attorney over the land, made a representation to the GDA seeking a change in the use of the land. "The GDA passed a resolution recommending the change of the use of the land without considering its own CDP," he alleged.

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