Karnataka: Ministers Kagodu Thimmappa, UT Khader and Umashree under fire
Bengaluru: Three ministers-revenue minister Kagodu Thimmappa, food and civil supplies minister U.T. Khader and women and child welfare minister Umashree were targeted by ruling party legislators for failing to handle problems, including the ongoing stir by Anganwadi workers, but Chief Minister Siddaramaiah turned the tables on them and took them to task for not utilizing funds allocated to their constituencies.
Some legislators also tried to impress upon Mr Siddaramaiah the need to waive farmers' loans in order to evoke 'feel good' factor ahead of next year's Assembly polls and demanded that Namma Canteen be named after the late prime minister Mrs Indira Gandhi.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader observed that Mr Siddaramaiah directed MLAs not to raise objections like Opposition members do in the Assembly as he was aware of the fact that over Rs 1000 crores remained "unspent" with several deputy commissioners.
"Such being the case how can anyone blame ministers or the government for not releasing funds? I know for sure that many of our MLAs have not even exhausted MLA funds (Rs 2 crores to each MLA), ruling party MLAs should refrain from making such comments," the leader quoted Mr Siddaramaiah as telling the legislators.
The leader said Mr Siddaramaiah stalled further criticism of Ms Umashree by posing a question as to how many MLAs were aware of the fact that the Congress, in the last four years, hiked honorarium of Anganwadi employees four times, from Rs 3500 per month to Rs 7000 per month. "This agitation is politically motivated by the opposition. How many MLAs have defended the state government's decision? In a government set-up, there will always be fear of cascading effect on other appointments too, such as appointments to guest lecturers, guest teachers whose payment is hovering around Rs 4500 to Rs 5500 per month. If the government concedes their demand, where will be money left to take up development? Have you ever countered the opposition in this manner?" the Chief Minister apparently asked his MLAs.
