Karnataka - Bijapur   

Bijapur councillors gherao Minister

Staff Correspondent

FUTILE WAIT: Members of a folklore troupe waiting to perform at the inauguration of the bus terminus in Bijapur on Friday.

BIJAPUR: The much-publicised inaugural function of the new bus stand here turned out to damp squib here on Friday as Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who was to open it, missed the programmed again.

The new terminus was ready for over the last three months. If everything progressed according to the plan of North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), Mr. Kumaraswamy would have opened it on June 6. However, the plan was cancelled just two days before the scheduled day for want of his appointment.

In July and August, likely dates of inauguration were in the air again at least on three occasions. The NWKRTC finally got an appointment from the Chief Minister on September 22. The people and Janata Dal (S) workers gathered in large number to welcome the Chief Minister but were disappointed. However, commuters, who were the least bothered about the formal inauguration event, appeared ecstatic as the terminus was opened to their use at last. The lapse in inviting the municipal president and members led to a controversy and Transport Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy had to face the wrath of the councillors. The councillors, led by the municipal president Abdul Razak Loni, waylaid the car of the Minister and gheraoed him. They alleged that the NWKRTC had invited to the function neither the first citizen (municipal president) of the city nor the councillors.

Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy offered an apology. He invited them to attend the event but in vain. However, MLA Appasaheb Pattanashetti persuaded them. The dais management went awry when a large number of Janata Dal (S) leaders and former MLAs occupied the chairs meant for other dignitaries. As Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy was in hurry to fly back to Bangalore, the medal-winning drivers could not even have photographs of the award presentation.

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