BANGALORE: Even as Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda asserted that the state government had done its duty to appoint the Lokayukta, Congress members in the Council on Thursday staged a walkout expressing their dissatisfaction over reply.
“The government is not responsible for the delay in appointing the Lokayukta. After I took over as CM, I have completed all constitutional (its) obligations. We are waiting for the Governor’s response,” Gowda replied to a query from Allama Prabhu Patil of Congress.
When Gowda told that he wouldn’t want to elaborate on the issue as it is sub judice with two petitions being heard in the High Court, Congress members accused the government of taking shelter under technicality. The CM shot back, “There is no need to take shelter under technicality. I have been telling this right from day one... The delay is not on account of us.”
JD(S) stages dharna
JD(S) members staged a dharna in the Legislative Council on Thursday on the issue of giving grant-in-aid to educational institutions that were started before 1994-95. Though the CM gave an assurance that he would get back to the house by Wednesday after discussing with the finance department, JD(S) members Puttanna and Ramakrishna along with Maritibbe Gowda (independent) trooped into the well of the house in protest against the remark made by Primary Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri.
The issue of completing the giving grant-in-aid was raised by Basavaraj Horatti of JD(S). “Many teachers of non-aided institutions are staging a hunger strike for the last 50 days in Hubli, but Kageri called on them for only five minutes as he was busy with the RSS camp.” Ravi blasts ‘planted’ media report
BJP MLA C T Ravi moved a privilege motion against a Kannada TV news channel for his alleged wrong portrayal in a recent investigative report. Ravi charged the channel of conspiring to tarnish his public image by airing a ‘baseless’ programme. “My political opponents have planted the story to paint me as a culprit.”
However, JD(S) Group Leader in the House H D Revanna intervened and said that Ravi should instead approach the courts to seek redressal by filing defamation suit. Ravi had a supporter in Dr Sudhakar of Congress who criticised a section of the Media for its proclivity to publish reports without verifying facts.