Karnataka - Madikeri   

Suma Vasant opposes taking back expelled Congress leaders

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, DEC. 7. The former Minister Suma Vasant said here on Tuesday that the Congress High Command should be wary of certain expelled leaders in Kodagu who wanted to rejoin the party.

Ms. Vasant told presspersons that if her views were to be elicited on the issue, she would say no to the re-entry of those leaders who joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and claimed credit for her defeat in the previous Assembly elections to H.D. Basavaraj in Virajpet and that of the former Minister T. John in the Legislative Council elections to C.A. Arun Machaiah.

She was referring to Mr. Machaiah calling a meeting of "loyal Congressmen.''

She criticised Mr. Basavaraj for blaming her for the poor road conditions, drinking water supply and incomplete public works in Virajpet taluk.

He was trying to give excuses and escape the wrath of the people.

She alleged that there were irregularities in Virajpet Taluk Panchayat when she assumed office in the previous term. If Mr. Basavaraj did not stop the slur campaign, the Congress would launch protests, she added.

Allegations

Ms. Vasant and a representative of the chamber of commerce in the previous Gonicoppa Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee, M.K. Nanjappa, alleged that Mr. Basavaraj was misusing facilities. Mr. Basavaraj did not pay room rent and misused the committee's vehicle for his own work. The committee had been turned into a BJP office, they charged.

Mr. Nanjappa said he had urged the Minister for Agricultural Marketing, Prakash B. Hukkeri, to order an inquiry and he had received a favourable reply. Many works approved by the previous committee were being diverted or cancelled, he added.

Special package

Ms. Vasant's statement on the Rs. 107-crore special package for Kodagu announced by the S.M. Krishna Government contradicted that of the district in-charge Minister, Tanvir Sait, who said that such a proposal did not exist before the State Government.

Ms. Vasant said the Minister should have consulted senior party leaders from Kodagu before issuing the statement. Without saying whether the package existed or not, she said it was up to the elected representatives from Kodagu to pursue the issue.

Mr. Sait had agreed to call a meeting on the issue soon, she added.

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