The Hindu : Karnataka News : JD(S)-BJP rift has hit governance: Congress

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Friday, Aug 31, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

JD(S)-BJP rift has hit governance: Congress

Staff Correspondent

‘Ministers are now worried about securing a berth in the next Government’

No tie-up with Janata Dal (Secular): leaders
Government faulted on relief work

DAVANGERE: Congress leaders have said that the administration of the State has been paralysed as Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa are still quarrelling over the issue of handing over power.

Both of them have been claiming credit for “supposedly” working for the State, without doing anything at all, they have said.

Speaking to presspersons at the Birla Guest House at Harihar on Thursday, Mallikarjuna Kharge, KPCC president, and Dharam Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and former Chief Minister, said that while the Chief Minister and his deputy were busy settling scores with each other, Ministers in their respective parties were worried over securing ministerial berths in the Government to be formed. Administration had taken a back seat and the people put to a lot of hardship, owing to “irresponsible” governance, Mr. Kharge alleged.

‘Compensation not paid’

He said that the Government had failed to come to the rescue of flood victims and had not paid compensation to those who had lost houses and crop in the recent rains. The Government had sporadically released negligible amounts, that too at select places of political importance, he said, and added that it had miserably failed the people.

The Government, without taking any concrete steps to compensate flood victims, was merely directing the Centre to do so without taking steps, he said.

The KPCC president said there was a State Calamity Relief Fund to rely upon, and questioned the rationale of the Government for not releasing ad-hoc funds from it to compensate victims.

Relief work

He said the district Ministers should have been asked by the Chief Minister to stay in their respective areas and supervise relief work. The Chief Minister, his deputy and their Cabinet colleagues had no time to think of public welfare, he charged.

Mr. Dharam Singh noted that the Centre had released over Rs.2650 crore to the State under different heads, and asked if the Government had formulated any action plan in this regard. He questioned the efficacy of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy’s village stays, and demanded information on the number of grievances redressed by him. Describing the “Grama Vastavya” programme of the Chief Minister as a political gimmick, Mr. Singh said the people were focussed on results and not on rhetoric.

Referring to the decision of the Cabinet to withdraw all contract agreements with the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) Company, Mr. Singh said it was former Prime Minister Deve Gowda who had engaged NICE on contract some years ago.

Tie-up ruled out

Both Mr. Kharge and Mr. Singh ruled out the possibility of a tie-up with the Janata Dal (Secular) to form a government again, and added that the Prime Minister had already asked the State Congress unit to prepare for ‘imminent’ elections.

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