The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Village visits a political gimmick’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 06, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Village visits a political gimmick’

Special Correspondent

‘They have made no difference to the lives of the people’

M.P. Prakash defends Chief Minister’s initiative
Says aim is to address people’s grievances faster

BANGALORE: The Opposition in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday criticised the village stay programme of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and dubbed it a political gimmick.

Leader of the Opposition N. Dharam Singh, who moved an adjournment motion on the damage caused by heavy rain and floods in many parts of the State, asked, “What transformation has staying in villages brought about? It is better that the Chief Minister spends more time in the Vidhana Soudha than in villages.” He suggested that Mr. Kumaraswamy attend the ongoing session of the legislature daily to gather information on the implementation of development projects in the State.

‘Political drama’

Vatal Nagaraj of the Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha asked, “What is the outcome of the Chief Minister’s overnight stay in villages? What changes has it brought about in those villages where he stayed?”

He termed the programme a political drama. “Let the Chief Minister bring out a White Paper,” he said.

The former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (Congress) agreed with Mr. Nagaraj. J.C. Madhuswamy (JD-U) termed the Chief Minster’s village stay programme a political gimmick.

Mr. Siddaramaiah lambasted Mr. Kumaraswamy for the manner in which his overnight halts in chosen villages were organised. “A foam mattress, pillow, mineral water, food, electricity and other facilities are provided just for on night and they vanish the moment the Chief Minister leaves the village.”

Even after the Chief Minister stayed overnight in a village in Bidar, over 50 farmers had committed suicide in that district. “Is this Government dead or alive,” he asked.

Several Opposition members wanted to know whether the Chief Minister needed to stay overnight in villages to know the problems there? In that case he would have to visit over 27,000 villages in the State.

Programmed defended

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.P. Prakash defended the village stay programme. The intention was to take the administration closer to the people and address grievances faster, he said.

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