Mangalore, Jan 19: Former leader of Opposition in Legislative Council V S Ugrappa said that the state BJP government, which had failed to appoint Lokayukta in the state from the past 15 months, had no legal or moral right to remain in power.
Addressing mediapersons at a press conference here on Saturday, he said that the final report on illegal mining submitted to the Governor by Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde in July 2011, showed a sum of Rs 22,000 crore being misappropriated and named 776 members in the mining scam.
As per the provisions of Section 12 of the Lokayukta Act, Action-Taken Report should be compiled within 90 days after the submission of the Lokayukta report. However, Lokayukta has not been appointed even after 15 months. This shows the inclination of the BJP government towards sacrificing the development of the state. Development of the state now is moving backwards, he said adding that it was utterly condemnable.
Recovery of the misappropriated funds and prosecution of the named members is the duty of the government, he said.
Speaking on the final award of Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal, which allotted 419 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu and 270 TMC to Karnataka, he urged the BJP government to come clear on its stand on the final award in the Cauvery dispute. The state government has so far not obtained a stay order on the notification of the final award. While senior advocate Fali Nariman has taken a stand that he had no objection for the notification, the state government should declare whether or not it holds the same. If it does, then why was this not declared at the all-party meeting held? If the BJP has even a little concern or commitment for the law of the land, then it should declare its stand on the issue. It owes an explanation to the people of Karnataka, he said.
He also criticised the BJP for its stance on the proposed central university for minorities in the state. Instead of welcoming the progressive decision of establishing a Central University in Srirangapatna, why is the BJP showing interest in opposing it? BJP leaders, who are opposing the establishment of the university, are hindering the development of the state, and sacrificing the interest of the people, he said and added that politics had taken a wrong turn in the state, with increasing self-centered politicians.
“The BJP and the KJP, are responsible for all the corruption and mal-administration in the state. When S M Krishna was the Chief Minister of the state, 39 per cent of the state budget was allocated for irrigation projects, while now it is only 13 per cent,” he said, stating that the current administration's achievements were nil.
Taking about allegations of the Congress being involved in various scams at the Centre, he said that the allegations were politically-driven and baseless.
Comments
Add new comment