 "CM rejigs state cabinet ahead of winter session in Belgaum")
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would hold additional charge of Information portfolio as Governor H R Bhardwaj today accepted the resignation of Santosh S Lad, who quit over allegations of illegal mining.
Infrastructure Develo-pment portfolio has been allocated to Minister for Planning, IT, BT and Science and Technology, S R Patil on the advice of the Chief Minister, according to a Raj Bhavan communique today.
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Lad, who was Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Information and Infrastruc-ture Development, submitted his resignation late last eventing to the Chief Minister, who forwarded it to the Governor for acceptance. Three-time MLA, 38-year-old Lad was facing heat over allegations of illegal mining for the past three months.
Ahead of winter session of the state legislature scheduled to commence on Monday, the Chief Minister asked Lad to put in his papers after Governor Bhardwaj asked for action to be taken against him.
The resignation was also aimed at disarming opposition JDS and BJP, which were gearing up to put the Government on the mat by keeping the spotlight on Lad. The iron ore mining company in which Lad is partner is linked to another firm owned by his kith and kin which allegedly indulged in illegal mining. Lad had repeatedly denied that his company was engaged in illegal mining.
Farmers' demands, flood relief to dominate session
The issues relating to the development of north Karna-taka region are likely to dominate the winter session of legislative assembly and council scheduled to begin at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belgaum on Monday. This is the fourth session of legislature at Belgaum and second in newly constructed Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. While the last three sessions were held during the regime of BJP, this winter's session will be the first for the Congress as a ruling party.
Farmers' demands, flood relief to the affected areas and people, Shadi Bhagya scheme, school trips for the children belonging to minority, backward classes and SC/STs and the anti-superstition Bill are the main issues that are likely to be discussed during the session.
The resignation by information minister Santosh Lad has pre empted the Opposition parties' move to stall the proceedings at the session. The iron ore mining company in which Lad is a partner is linked to another firm owned by his kith and kin which allegedly indulged in illegal mining.
The BJP and JD(S) were planning to attack the government on issue of retaining Santosh Lad in the cabinet despite his name figuring in the illegal mining and stocking of minerals cases.
However Chief Minister Siddramaiah ensured that Lad put in his papers and saved the government of embarrassment. Outwitted, BJP now says it will take up developmental issues concerning north Karnataka and "policy of appeasement" of minorities by the Congress government, while JD-S has decided to raise issues concerning farmers, among others.
Farmers have planned to stage protest outside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha to press for their demands. The Kalasa Banduri nala project, hardship faced by the sugarcane, coconut and areca nut growers, the problem of foot and mouth disease faced by the cattle, damage caused by floods will be raised again at the session.
Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council D H Shankar Murthy expressed confidence that the legislators would use the session to discuss useful issues that would help solve the problems of the people and take the state on a path of development. The issues of north Karnataka would be given prominence, he said.
Speaker of Assembly Kagodu Timmappa echoed similar sentiments and said the legislators would cooperate with the government by taking up constructive issues.
Meanwhile the government will hold a cabinet meet in Belgaum during the legislature session and issues relating to North Karnataka regionwill be discussed and decisions concerning the region will be taken, said district minister Satish Jarkiholi.
He said the cabinet meet will discuss irrigation and road projects of the region. However, the session will also discuss other issues relating to the state, he added.
This winter legislature session follows the last in Belgaum in 2006, when the move was initiated by the JD(S)-BJP coalition government.
This was followed by construction of Suvarna Soudha, modelled on the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, by the BJP government as an assertion that Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka.
Maharashtra claims Belgaum should belong to it. The government had reportedly planned to introduce the anti-superstition bill in the Belgaum session but apparently developed cold feet after it came under attack from BJP and a section of society which contended that several of its provisions targeted Hindu beliefs and practices.
The government now says that the legislation would be brought forth after wider consultations.
A point of interest would be whether Karnataka Janatha Paksha led by former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa would be on the same page as the BJP, amid vigorous efforts by his outfit to become part of NDA well before the Lok Sabha polls.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the Belgaum Suvarna Vidhana Soudha which will host the legislature session from November 25 to December 7.
The Suvarna Vidhana Soudha situated at the hillock near Bastawad on Belgaum-Dharwad road has virtually turned into a fortress with the large number of policemen covering the area.
The heavy deployment comes on the wake of the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre receiving a terror alert ahead of the meetings.
Security forces have taken several measures to provide foolproof security at all defence installations in the city and at the circuit house, guesthouses and hotels housing the chief minister, his Cabinet colleagues, the Assembly Speaker, the Legislative Council Chairman, legislators and officials.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Northern range Bhaskar Rao said about 5,000 security personnel, including two companies of Rapid Action Force would be deployed and as many as 209 closed-circuit television cameras installed inside and outside the Soudha building.
Sixteen divisions had been formed to ensure security during the legislature session. Each division would have one deputy superintendent of police, two circle inspectors, 15 sub-inspectors, 25 head constables, eight women personnel and reserve police personnel.
A total of four additional superintendents of police, 21 deputy superintendents, 81 inspectors, 228 sub-inspectors, 360 assistant sub-inspectors, 2,777 head constables/police constables and 98 women personnel would be deployed, he said.
Ten anti-sabotage teams, two guard of honour teams, two quick response teams, 19 companies of the District Armed Reserve Police, 23 companies of Karnataka State Reserve Police, two companies of Rapid Action Force and 250 Home Guards have been drafted for duty, Rao said.
Two bulletproof cars, three Vajra vehicles, four water tankers, four cranes, five Tempo Traveller vans, 47 sports utility vehicles and four Ambassador cars from neighbouring districts have been availed of for the session, he said.
Prohibitory orders have been clamped up to a distance of one kilometre from the Soudha from the midnight of November 24 to the midnight of December 7.
As several organizations will be holding protests during the session, two acres and 24 guntas of land has been taken on lease in Halaga village, around 1km from SVS, for protests to be held. Water and toilet arrangements will be made for protesters on the ground, the IGP said.