Brief drama of resignation by JDS MLA over sugar factory issue

A brief drama unfolded in the Karnataka Assembly today after JDS member S R Mahesh handed over his resignation letter to Deputy Speaker, which he did not accept, over a sugar factory issue.
The Deputy Speaker N H Shiva Shankar Reddy assured the member of a reply on the issue of Sriram Cooperative Sugar Factory by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tomorrow.
The JDS MLA, disappointed with the assurance given by Minister for Horticulture and Agri marketing SS Mallikarjun over Sriram sugar factory, stormed into the well of the house and handed over the resignation letter to Deputy Speaker.
Mahesh was joined by JDS MLAs, who also stormed into the well, demanding a convincing reply on Sriram sugar factory, which was closed some three years back.

Taking note of seriousness of the matter, Mallikarjun assured the protesting JDS MLAs of a reply from Siddaramaiah tomorrow. Thereafter, the JDS members took their seats, allowing house proceedings to resume.
Raising the issue, Mahesh urged the government to revive the Sriram cooperative Sugar Factory in KR Nagar and also address payment of Rs 14.75 crore salaries to sugar factory employees.

"Time and again, I have been raising this issue inside and outside the house. I urge the government to give an assurance of reviving the factory and giving away Rs 14.75 crore pending salaries of the employees, which has not been paid for the last five years," Mahesh said.

"The government has failed miserably in its efforts to revive the factory. Several petitions were submitted to the chief minister seeking his intervention in reviving the sugar factories, but to no avail," he added.
Replying to the issue, Mallikarjun said "The government is doing everything to revive the factory and pay the pending salaries of the employees."
Dissatisfied with the reply, Mahesh tore into the minister and demanded an assurance to address the matter concretely because for nearly three years, no concrete steps have been taken by government.