The Hindu : Ananth demands reply from Krishna on CVC's view

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Ananth demands reply from Krishna on CVC's view

By Our Special Correspondent

SHIKARIPUR (Shimoga Dt.) Aug. 11. The President of the State unit of the BJP, H.N. Ananth Kumar, said here on Monday that the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, should give a proper reply to the surprise expressed by the Central Vigilance Commissioner, P.Shankar, in Bangalore recently over the State Government's stand in not giving blanket permission to the CBI to probe cases in the State suo motu.

Talking to newspersons, he said the Government's refusal to give blanket permission to the CBI raised questions as there were several cases of corruption and misappropriation of funds that deserved to be investigated.

He pointed out that Karnataka and Mizoram were the only two States that had refused to give blanket permission to the CBI.

"By doing so, the State Government has displayed its lack of concern to root out corruption," he charged.

The multi-crore stamp paper racket and the circumstances that led to the death of the former Minister, H.Nagappa, who was in the captivity of the forest brigand, Veerappan, deserved to be investigated by the CBI, Mr. Kumar said. He said the stamp paper racket was a serious case as it had inter-State ramifications. Mr. Kumar said it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister, who claimed that the Government gave top priority to transparency in administration, was dragging his feet to give permission to the CBI to inquire into cases of corruption on its own.

He also took exception to the refusal by the Congress to agree to set up a joint legislature committee to go into the allegations of misuse of Central funds for tackling drought.

He wondered how the inquiry by the Development Commissioner could bring out the truth when he himself was primarily responsible for the implementation of relief measures.

Mr. Kumar said his party was highlighting the Government's "insensitivity" to corruption and misappropriation of funds, within and outside the legislature.

The State BJP chief said he and his party leaders had toured 18 districts to study the problems of farmers, in particular, and the common people.

Mr. Kumar alleged that the State Government had failed to use the Central assistance to tackle drought.

Only 55 per cent of the Central funds had been utilised, he claimed.

He alleged that a major part of the rice released by the Centre for distribution under the food-for-work programme was sold in the black market.

He accused the Home Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, who heads the Cabinet subcommittee on drought, of misleading the legislature by claiming that the funds released by the Centre for drought management had been utilised properly.

Mr. Kumar said that more than 300 farmers had committed suicide, but the Government had not changed its "indifferent" attitude.

He said he would discuss the problems arising out of the faulty implementation of the drought relief measures with the Union Agriculture Minister, Rajnath Singh.

He would also plead for raising the allocation of Central assistance to the State, Mr. Kumar said.

He denied that the Centre was discriminating against Karnataka.

Mr. Kumar said he would meet the Union Minister for Steel, B.K.Tripathy, in Delhi and seek higher compensation to the families of those who died and those who suffered injuries in the explosion at the VISL plant in Bhadravati.

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Ananth demands reply from Krishna on CVC's view