Bengaluru / Udupi / Madhugiri, Jun 20: Protests continued in various places on Monday, by supporters of some of the ministers dropped from the Siddaramaiah government and a few hopefuls.
Members of the Youth Congress staged a protest at Byndoor in Udupi district on Monday against not inducting K. Gopal Poojary, MLA, who is also the Udupi District Congress Committee president, into the State Cabinet.
Eshwar Devadiga, member of Kirimanjeshwara Gram Panchayat, said that Mr. Poojary had been elected as MLA for four times from Byndoor Assembly constituency. “He was the senior most MLA after Mr. Siddaramaiah dropped Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLA for Kaup, from the Cabinet. Hence, Mr. Poojary should have got the opportunity,” he added.
He alleged that some senior Congress leaders had scuttled Mr. Poojary's chances. “Mr. Siddaramaiah should immediately correct the mistake by including Mr. Poojary in the Cabinet. If this was not done, all elected representatives of the Congress from Byndoor would resign from their posts en-masse and launch an intense agitation,” he said.
Sorake's removal condemned
Leaders of the Billava community, who held a meeting at Katapady near Kaup on Sunday, vented their ire at the Congress leadership for dropping Mr. Sorake from the Cabinet. They expressed their displeasure at not a single MLA of Billava community from Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts being inducted in the Cabinet.
Vasanth Bangera, MLA for Belthangady and the former Union Minister, Janardhan Poojary, who belonged to the community, too, had been shabbily treated, they said.
Kabbaligas threaten Cong
In Yadgir, supporters of Baburao Chinchansur said that the vacant slot in the ministry should be given to their leader, failing which the Congress would lose the votes of the Kabbaliga community to which he belongs, they warned. They held a protest by tying black bands to their shoulders and burning tyres, at Subhash Circle in the town. Protests were held by members of the Valmiki community at Surapur in Yadgir district, against the non-inclusion of Raja Venkatappa Naik in the ministry.
Kalaburgi bandh
The supporters of former minister Qamarul Islam have called for a Kalaburagi bandh on June 25, in protest against dropping Islam from the ministry and to urge the party high command and the chief minister to reinstate him.
Twenty-eight corporators and party office-bearers handed over their resignations to the former minister and pledged their support to him. Those who tendered their resignations include Mayor Syed Ahmed and Deputy Mayor Sharanamma.
Supporters of former minister Satish Jarkiholi staged a rally in Belagavi, protesting against the decision to drop him from the ministry.
Immolation attempt by Ambareesh fan
M?D?Kanaka, the former president of a Gram Panchayat, tried to immolate herself, during a demonstration in Mandya against former minister M?H?Ambareesh being dropped from the ministry. This happened as news spread that Ambareesh had resigned as MLA. The police and fellow party workers thwarted the attempt. Puttaswamy of Karadakere village, K M Doddi, Maddur taluk, tried to end his life by consuming poison. He has been admitted to the government hospital in Mandya for treatment.
Aggrieved Congress workers have blamed actor-turned-politician and former MP Ramya for Ambareesh being dropped from the ministry.
The bandh called by the supporters of legislator K?N?Rajanna was total in Madhugiri of Tumakuru district. The supporters took out a protest march in the town.
The bandh call given by the fans and followers of V Srinivas Prasad protesting their leader being dropped from the ministry was successful in Chamarajanagar and?the temple town Nanjangud in Mysuru district.
While cinema theatres, petrol bunks and shops were closed, KSRTC and private bus operators suspended their services.
The supporters were seen forcing the school and college managements, shopkeepers and hoteliers to down their shutters in the morning. They took out a protest march demanding that Prasad be reinducted.
In Nanjangud, supporters of Prasad forced shopkeepers to down the shutters and took out a protest march. This brought the busy traffic on national highway 212 (that passes through the Hullahalli Circle and connects Mysuru and Ooty) to a halt.
CM hits back at Prasad
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has chosen to hit back at Srinivas Prasad, who has launched a vituperative attack on him. Siddaramaiah issued an order cancelling the recent transfer of 83 sub-registrars. The transfer decision was taken by Srinivas Prasad as the Revenue Minister.
The order termed the transfers illegal as it was against the transfer guidelines. Besides, the Revenue department principal secretary has been directed to take action against Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps N V Prasad.
“As against the cadre strength of 280, only 15 transfers are permitted (5%). If more than 5% transfers are made, then chief minister's approval is needed,” the order stated. An upset Srinivas Prasad had charged Siddaramaiah with being lethargic and directly blamed him for the poor image of the government. He had also said the high command should have changed the leadership in the state and that the reshuffle exercise will not serve any purpose.
When contacted, N V Prasad said that the transfers were effected at Srinivas Prasad's behest. “I have only followed the directions given by the minister. The minister ordered transfer of 23 sub-registrars on June 9 and 60 sub-registrars on June 16,” he said.
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