Bangalore: Congress Leader Kharge Lends Support to 'Seriously Working, Smiling CM'

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Feb 13: Even as Opposition Congress leaders, along with those of JD(S), have been gunning for Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and demanding his resignation, the latter got support from Senior Congress leader and Union Labour Minister M Mallikarjuna Kharge.

''He (Sadananda Gowda) is a man, who is works seriously with an ever-smiling face,” Kharge said and hoped that the Chief Minister was allowed to function smoothly without being disturbed by anybody from within the ruling BJP.

Kharge, who had served as Congress Opposition leader in the Assembly soon after the 2008 assembly polls when former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was in the saddle and later got elected to the Lok Sabha from Gulbarga to become the Union Labour Minister, said: ''I hope nobody pulls the Chief Minister’s legs and destabilizes the government.”

He was speaking at a function after inaugurating the ESI hospital at Peenya in the city. The function was presided over by Sadananda Gowda.

Kharge said the labour department had sanctioned Rs 4,000 crore to Karnataka after he assumed charge and urged the State Government to properly utilise the funds.

The Union Minister advised the State Labour Minister B N Bachche Gowda, who attended the function, that he and other state ministers should strengthen the hands of the the Chief Minister and resist any attempts to pull down the Sadananda Gowda Government.

Kharge’s remarks came against the backdrop of efforts by loyalists of former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s reinstatement as the Chief Minister besides the stepped up attack on the government by opposition over the three ex-ministers caught red-handed for watching porn clips on their mobile phones on the floor of the Assembly.

The Senior Congress leader said his department had lined up many programmes for the State including opening of Provident Fund office in Belgaum, upgradation of ESI hospital in Mysore and opening of ESI hospital for beedi workers in Mandya.

''We have already sanctioned an 100-bed hospital in Doddaballapura, which will cost Rs 100 crore,” he said adding: ''Another 200-bed hospital would be established at Bommasandra in Bangalore at a cost of around Rs 200 crore.”

There were 14 lakh labourers, who have been covered under ESI scheme in Karnataka and the State stands fourth in the country in terms of number of insured persons under the ESI, he said.

Kharge said the ESI Hospital and nursing college at Rajajinagar in Bangalore will be ready in five to six months and Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda will be invited to unveil it.

''Naturally, ministers like Bachche Gowda must defend and support the Chief Minister in the larger interests of the people and the State’s development,” he added.