B.S. Yediyurappa

BANGALORE: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has said that the Government will earmark special grants for the development of the 39 "most backward" taluks specified in the D.M. Nanjundappa report in the next budget.

He told presspersons here on Friday that he and a team of officials would tour five or six taluks identified as the "most backward" among the 21 backward taluks in the Hyderabad Karnataka region soon. The team would study the problems of such taluks and take corrective measures. He had asked for a status report on the implementation of the Nanjundappa committee recommendations.

Mr. Yediyurappa, who said that he was keen on the participation of even the Opposition representatives in the implementation of the report, said the Government would invite Leader of Opposition in the Assembly N. Dharam Singh to be a part of the study team. Incidentally, Mr. Dharam Singh's Assembly constituency, Jewargi, was one among the "most backward" as mentioned in the Nanjundappa report.

About his budget preparatory meetings, Mr. Yediyurappa said the Government was keen on giving priority to tourism. On waiver of farm loans, he said it would request farmers to provide the requisite information to the Government and thereafter the required financial allocations would be made.

Ban on arrack

With reference to the proposed ban on arrack, Mr. Yediyurappa said that many spiritual leaders of the State had been urging the Government to ban the manufacture and sale of arrack with a view to avert human tragedies and addiction among the poor. Of late, many Stree Shakti and self-help groups had also been making similar demands. However, the Government would consult economic experts before taking the final decision on banning arrack, which was earning revenue of over Rs. 2,000 crore for the State.

Charge against swamiji

On the attempt to murder charge made against Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji of the Pejwar Math, Mr. Yediyurappa said it was part of a "conspiracy". "The Government will intervene to unearth the truth in the larger interests of society, particularly the followers of the swamiji. It is apparent that the charges made against the swamiji are false and motivated," he said.

He said the swamiji took to spiritual life over 60 years ago and had been living a pious and dedicated life for a social cause.

For those who had known the swamiji closely over the decades, the episode would sound absurd and beyond imagination, he said.

"The Government was under pressure from various quarters to ascertain the fact as the swamiji is known for his progressive outlook. He had played an important role in solving many social problems and personal differences on request," he said.

He said that he had spoken to the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police K.R. Srinivasan and instructed him to conduct a thorough investigation into the charges. He would also speak to the Chief Minister and the Home Minister on the issue.

Mr. Yediyurappa, however, hastened to add that he was not passing any comment or interfering in the court's direction to the Government pertaining to the case. "These are my personal observations since I have known the seer for over four decades," he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail