‘Action will be taken against Cong. leader for misbehaving with MLC’

Karnataka Silk Marketing Board chairman and Congress leader T.P. Ramesh is likely to face action for his alleged indecorous behaviour with a woman MLC at an event in Kodagu last week.

Minister for Planning, Statistics, Science and Technology M.R. Seetharam, who is in charge of Kodagu district, told presspersons on Monday that he had spoken to KPCC president G. Parameshwara and working president Dinesh Gundu Rao and action would be initiated against Mr. Ramesh. “I was present on the dais and that behaviour is not acceptable on a public platform. Mr. Ramesh should have resigned as KSMB chairman after the incident was reported in the media,” Mr. Seetharam said.

“The party will take action after a preliminary enquiry and he will be placed under suspension,” Mr. Seetharam said.

Mr. Ramesh, who shared the dais with Veena Achaiah, MLC, was in conversation with her when he tried to hold her hand, which she nudged away. This was captured by TV cameras and played in a spool, causing embarrassment to both.

Ms. Achaiah had told The Hindu that she had brought the issue to the notice of the party leadership in the State. When asked if she had sought action against Mr. Ramesh, she said the decision was left to the party leadership.\

Mobile planetaria

The State Government’s initiative to launch a mobile planetarium in each revenue division for students in rural areas will be rolled out in the first week of September.

The Minister said six mobile planateria would go from school to school in every taluk and hold shows for students to help them get the planaterium experience.

Initially, the facility will ne available only for government school students. Private schools will be allowed to use services, only after all the government schools are covered, he added.