CM asks ministers to counter opposition's attacks

Hit by a spate of scams and relentless opposition attacks targeting him, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has asked his ministerial colleagues to work towards building the image of the BJP Government.

At a meeting called by him last evening, Yeddyurappa also asked his ministerial colleagues to mount a counter-attack against opposition Congress and JD(S), which have been hitting out at his government over various issues, including illegal mining and alleged nepotism in land denotifications. JD(S) has announced rallies from May 5 to protest against alleged corruption in the BJP Government while the Congress high command has also directed its state unit to draw up agitational programmes against the Yeddyurappa regime.

Ministerial sources, refusing to be named, said several ministers poured out their “anger” over “lack of funds” for development works and wanted Yeddyurappa to ensure flow of funds to housing, farm credit at one per cent interest rate as announced in the budget, supply of power and sowing seeds and fertilisers to farmers.

If these programmes were implemented, the government could boost its image among rural masses, several ministers felt. The sources said Yeddyurappa reeled out data on release of funds to various schemes and said “this is what I can do. I have done it”.

State unit BJP chief K S Eshwarappa, who was also present at the meeting, directed ministers to keep their family members out of administrative matters as it had been damaging the reputation of the government. Eshwarappa wanted the Ministers to ensure their presence at the state headquarters at least for two days and similar time in their respective districts where they are holding charge and also in their constituencies, Animal Husbandry Minister Revunaik Belamagi told reporters.

Eshwarappa wanted the ministers to review development works at district level, he said. Belamagi himself was pulled up by Eshwarappa who asked him to rein in his son in the wake of reports that he interfered with the department administration, but the minister denied the charge. “It is not true that my son held a review meeting of Library department. My son went to a office to call on an officer, who is due to retire and incidentally his friend,” Belamagi, known for his simplicity, said.