The Hindu : Most parties denounce package for Kodagu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 24, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Madikeri

Most parties denounce package for Kodagu

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, MARCH 23. The presidents of various political parties in Kodagu, except that of the Congress, on Tuesday, denounced the Rs. 107-crore Special Package announced by the Government some time ago for the all round development of the district, terming it as a political gimmick and a bid to woo voters in the district.

They were interacting with presspersons at the Patrika Bhavan in a programme, "Election Court — 2004", organised by the Kodagu District Journalists Association, the Kodagu Patrika Bhavan Trust and the Press Club.

The president of the BJP district unit, S.G. Medappa, taunted the Congress Government saying it is only a "special packet" and no money had come to the district so far.

Hosur Satish Kumar, general secretary of the Janata Dal (S), who represented his unit's district president, termed it as a mere eyewash. Only 50 per cent of the full grants earmarked for the zilla panchayat had been released this year. Would the people trust the special package? he asked.

Peter Lobo, CPI (M) general secretary, and the president of the district Bahujan Samaj Party, Gautam Shivappa, alleged it was only a political gimmick aimed at garnering mileage in the elections. The president of the Janata Party, Sanket Poovaiah, wanted the Congress to make public the contents of the special package. The president of the Kannada Nadu party, B.R. Shiva Kumar, and the working president of the Janata Dal (U), B.B. Subbaiah, demanded that the Government bring out a "white paper" with regard to the special package.

However, Veena Achaiah, president of the Kodagu Congress unit, defended the special package, mentioning the stress laid by the S.M. Krishna Government to ushering in all round development in the district. The works related to roads, bridges, drinking water and even the Rs. 10.50 crores announced for the renovation and improvement of Bhagamandala and Talacauvery under the authority concerned, spoke of the works taken up under the special package, she said.

Mr. Satish Kumar said renovation works were inaugurated at Bhagamandala and Talacauvery on three occasions. But the works had stopped. When the coffee crisis came up, Ms. Achaiah blamed the Centre. Mr. Medappa in turn blamed the State Government for failing to end the crisis. Mr. Subbaiah, a former Coffee Board member, said some persons attempted to use the coffee crisis to achieve political ends, hindering the moves to finding a lasting solution.

Mr. Medappa, however, stood by the National Democratic Alliance Government saying the waiver of interests, converting all coffee loans into special coffee term loan, in which loan repayment was re-phased for 11 years were the highlights of the Centre's rule.

Mr. Lobo charged that the BJP did nothing to redress the grievances despite the assurances given by the visiting Union Ministers to Kodagu two years ago. The plantation workers were yet to be brought under the Anna Antyodaya Scheme.

To a question on paying heed to the Codava National Council's poll boycott call, Mr. Medappa said action would be initiated by the party if its workers were found siding with the council. Ms. Achaiah said her party was not worried about such factors as none would respond to the boycott call.

The other question posed by presspersons was that the caste factor would figure again in the elections, particularly involving the two major communities. While some disagreed, some said there was some truth in it. The Bahujan Samaj Party leader, Gautam Shivappa, was the only one to say that candidates in Kodagu were picked on the basis of caste. Why did not the major parties pick a Dalit to contest from the constituencies not reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes? he asked.

The Congress and the BJP were of the opinion that their candidates would win all the three Assembly segments in Kodagu.

The Janata Party was hopeful of winning Madikeri and Somwarpet, while the Janata Dal (U) said it was still a nascent unit. The Kannada Nadu too echoed the same sentiment, however, saying it would field its candidate from Somwarpet. The Bahujan Samaj Party intended to defeat the major parties, if not win the elections, and the CPI (M) would support a party with secular credentials.

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