Honour for Siddaramaiah to have senior leader like me in Cabinet: V Srinivaprasad

Senior politician, revenue minister and Mysuru district in-charge minister, Mr V. Srinivasprasad is soft spoken and calm by nature, traits which came to the fore in an interview with Deccan Chronicle. He deplored the social divide in Mysuru and Kodagu which led to recent violence and made it clear that being an experienced politician, he was not obsessed with power but wished to be in active politics to contribute his mite to the state’s welfare. Excerpts from the interview:

Recently you had a verbal spat with Congress leader and former MP, A.H. Vishwanath. Didn’t you feel you overstepped your brief by criticising him?

(Smiles) I do not want to comment on this. Some people are known for their craze to be highlighted in the media. They will not shy away from commenting on anyone, even Rahul Gandhi.

It is a fact that you hold the revenue portfolio but do not visit other districts

It is not true. I have visited several districts. By organising revenue adalats and ‘podi muktha grama’ schemes, we have done a lot of work. Good allocations have been made and good programmes announced for the revenue department in the previous budgets and even in the budget for 2016-17.

The blame is not only on you. The entire cabinet is being criticized for non-performance. We have seen ministers sweating it out as a team in the BBMP polls and assembly by-polls. Then the state witnessed a drought last year but no minister visited the villages in his district or revenue division. Why did Congress ministers including you adopt such a callous attitude?

These days, ministers need not necessarily visit all villages. We have been continuously conducting video conferences with deputy commissioners of the respective districts. We keep interacting, monitoring and instructing officials on handling the drinking water crisis, providing employment and fodder to animals, opening goshalas, and several other issues related to drought. Our cabinet subcommittee has visited all revenue sub-divisions. We have obtained complete information on the situation at the ground level. Also, based on the reports from the district disaster management cells, we have sought drought relief funds as per SDRF norms and have constantly followed it up with the central government. The amount of interest we have shown and the work we have done in handling drought, I don’t think any other government can match us.

You say you are senior to Siddaramaiah and have done a lot of work. Are you warning the chief minister that he should not drop you from the cabinet?

You should remember the context in which I said that. I was answering a question by media on the cabinet reshuffle. They asked me if CM would drop me. In that context I said, ‘I am one of the senior politicians with an experience of four decades, and have served as Union minister in Vajpayee government and that I am senior to CM Siddaramaiah’. I only told them that Siddaramaiah would consider it an honour to have a senior and experienced leader like me in his cabinet.

Being Mysuru district in-charge minister, what is your view on the recent violence in Mysuru?

Except for isolated incidents police have managed the situation well on the 14th of this month, with a lot of patience.

The Congress does not introspect nor does it check records, but only blames BJP for whatever happens. Your party leaders privately admit that an overt expression and implementation of AHINDA agenda led to tension. Besides, your government last year dropped cases against anti-social elements. Isnt this the real reason for violence?

This is all mere speculation. The investigation will reveal the truth. Of the 40 cases related to 2009 riots in Mysuru, the five dropped pertained to BJP worker Raju (who was murdered on March 13). For some parties, it is a policy of divide and rule which works for them.

Do you think the social divide in Kodagu and Mysuru can be bridged? If yes how?

It is difficult to bridge the social divide. But we need to restore their confidence, ensure that people of different communities live in love and peace. In Mysuru, we are planning to map sensitive zones and make security arrangements accordingly and instill a sense of security among people.

What if you are dropped from cabinet in the next reshuffle?

I never asked them to include me in their cabinet. They said they consider it an honour to have a senior leader like me in their cabinet. It is their decision. I am just doing my work.

You are one of the SC leaders who command respect. What is your feedback about SC bloc supporting Congress? Is it possible?

It is difficult to say that the entire bloc is supporting us. Yet they know I am the voice of the oppressed and depressed, so they respect me.

There were rumours that you spoke about political retirement in Nanjangud.

Yes I will not contest elections anymore. But I will remain in active politics.