IN PROTEST: B. Sriramulu, Minister for Tourism (right), Janardhan Reddy (third from right), MLC, and others staging a dharna in Bellary on Monday.

BELLARY: B. Sriramulu, Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure Development, on Monday tendered his resignation in protest against what he said the deteriorating law and order situation in Bellary city, which he represents.

He has faxed his resignation letter to Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and also to the State BJP president D. Sadananda Gowda. On Sunday, Mujibsab, a Janata Dal (S) leader, was murdered allegedly by Ismail, president of the Bellary city unit of the party. In his letter, Mr. Sriramulu has alleged that some Janata Dal (S) leaders were involved in the murder. He has said that the incident has "pained me". The law and order situation here is deteriorating, he said.

The officials concerned, particularly the police, are partisan, have become corrupt and are not showing respect to the elected representatives, he has said.

Mr. Sriramulu has alleged that police negligence has resulted in the murder. The police released the accused after arresting him, he said. In the letter addressed to the party president, Mr. Sriramulu has indicated that he might quit as a member of the Assembly too if things did not improve.

Asked why he had not sent his resignation letter to the Chief Minister as required, Mr. Sriramulu told The Hindu that he would send a copy immediately to H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Report sought

Bangalore Special Correspondent reports:

Home Minister M.P. Prakash has said Mr. Sriramulu has not resigned. However, the Government has asked for a report on the murder from the Bellary Superintendent of Police.

It has directed top-ranking police officials to keep vigil in the district, Mr. Prakash told the Legislative Council.

Mr. Prakash made this statement when the Opposition Congress members read out copies of the resignation letters faxed by Mr. Sriramulu to Deputy Chief Minister and his party president.

Mr. Prakash made it clear that resignation letters that were faxed were not considered to be in proper format.

Besides, as per the norms, a resignation letter had to be sent to the Chief Minister. However, it was not so in this case, Mr. Prakash said.

Walkout

However, the Opposition leaders staged a walkout expressing dissatisfaction over the reply.

Before the walkout, they alleged that the Chief Minister's Political Secretary had secured the release of those arrested in connection with the murder.

Copy of letter

When contacted, Mr. Sadananda Gowda said he had not received any resignation letter from Mr. Sriramulu.

However, when it was pointed out that that the Opposition had displayed in the Legislative Council a copy of the resignation letter faxed to him, Mr. Sadananda Gowda said: "I am yet to go to my office as I am busy with party workshops. I do not know whether such a fax has been received."

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