Shettar bats for Reddy brothers

Minister for rural development and panchayat raj Jagadish Shettar wants Reddy brothers to be inducted into the cabinet till they are proved guilty.

Replying to queries by reporters here, Shettar said Reddys’ role in bringing the BJP to power for the first time in South India could not be ignored. He said, the party high command would keep this in mind before filling the remaining seven berths in the state cabinet.

When asked how he justified the Reddys’ inclusion in the cabinet when the Lok Ayukta report had indicted them in the illegal mining case, Shettar said any one is innocent till the charges are proved in the court of law. The government will study the report submitted by the Lokayukta during the mandatory three months time and take a final call on the report. “Keeping them out of the cabinet even before they are proved guilty is unfair,” he asserted.

Without naming Dharwad MLA Seema Masuti who was sitting next to him Shettar said he would make effort to get a ministerial berth to a woman MLA from North Karnataka as there has been only one woman in the cabinet now.

It may be recalled here that Hubli-Dharwad (West) MLA Chandrakant Bellad who is also an aspirant for a place in the cabinet had supported Yeddyurappa camp during the race for chief minister’s post. Bellad was not present during the Independence Day celebrations.

Shettar expressed confidence that the new dispensation under Sadanand Gowda would carry on the administration and development works efficiently in the remaining period.

He also stated that next Cabinet expansion would be in next 10 days.