MANGALORE: Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday said no general transfer of officials will be effected before April. Interacting with the Media during the Bhoota Kola, an annual spirit worship, at his residence in Devaragunda in Sullia, he hinted at implementing a strict transfer policy. He also attempted to motivate officials on striving at better progress in different schemes. “The general transfer will be in between April and June,” he disclosed when prodded further but added that mutual transfers and transfer of IAS and IPS officials will take place whenever the need arises.
He highlighted the bad precedent among officials to favour politicians or former ruling parties, but insisted that it was still possible to extract work from these officials by motivating them.
The CM, who seemed in a relaxed mood while participating in the Kola, agreed that transfers were effected based on the demands of many MLAs.
“I am going to avoid such situations by implementing a strict transfer policy,” he stressed. He said his plan is to achieve 90 per cent progress by motivating all 38 departments to implement all schemes announced in the previous budget. “I will review progress of all departments and take action to reach the target in two-and-a-half months,” he said.
Cock sacrifice raises eyebrows
The two-day Bhoota Kola to five spirits, witnessed the much-frowned practice of cock-sacrifice. According to sources, family members in the Devaragunda and Bellipady region had sacrificed as many as 20 cocks. The chief minister was present throughout the sacrifice ritual until evening. Brother of CM, DV Shivaram, said the offering of cocks was an annual ritual to appease spirits.
“There is a belief that the Ganas (consorts of gods) would be happy only with the cock’s blood,” the chief minister said. “I have immense belief in these daivas (spirits),” Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda stressed in front of the shrine during the annual Bhoota Kola at his house in Devaragunda in Sullia on Tuesday.
Gowda recalled that he had participated in the Kola in 2008, despite being frail and ailing from a health problem. The relationship between Malayan community of Kuttikol Kavenadan family of Kerala and the chief minister’s family spans over 150 years.