BENGALURU: The Congress MLA from Mayakonda constituency in Davanagere district allegedly abused and tried to assault the Principal Secretary to the Primary and Secondary Education Department demanding a report favouring the educational institutions run by a society of which he is the chairman. The IAS officers’ association and the Education Minister have now demanded the CM to take action against the MLA.
In a confidential letter to the Chief Secretary and minister for primary and secondary education, Principal Secretary Ajay Seth explained, “The MLA of Mayakonda constituency, K Shivamurthy Nayak, who is also chairman of the legislature committee on SC-ST welfare, used abusive language and threatened me with dire consequences if I did not do favours for some institutes run by a society of which he is the chairman.”
A copy of Seth’s three-page letter, which is available with Express, reads, “MLA K Shivamurthy came to my chamber around 11 am on January 27 inquiring about the progress of grant-in aid proposals for four high schools and one PU college being run by the Chitradurga District Banjara Youth Society of which he is the chairman. He abused and threatened me with consequences if I do not put up favourable notes for approval of the request of the Society. He kept on shouting for about 15 minutes. He inquired with me why am I seeking information, referring to my letter dated January 21 to the Society. He kept insisting that the Society is entitled for grants as schools have been given permanent recognition.”
According to the letter, as per department records, all the five schools/colleges were closed for several years and had inadequate strength even when they were functioning. “The MLA alleged that I was ganging up with corrupt officials to deny grants to the Society. He termed me as an anti-Dalit officer,” Seth wrote.
Though the officer informed the MLA about a meeting he was scheduled to have with the Assurances Committee, he insisted that the officer accompany him to meet the Chief Minister. “He kept on shouting at me even in the office corridor,” said Ajay Seth.
Nayak again came to Principal Secretary’s office at 5 pm that day and raised suspicions over the Chief Minister’s role in denying the grant-in aid.