Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jan 18: BJP leader and Chikkamagaluru MLA C T Ravi on Wednesday January 18 alleged that the Congress government in the state has been 'misusing' the police deparment for its 'political gimmicks'

Addressing a press meet at the district BJP office here, Ravi referred to the series of attacks on RSS and Sangh Parivar activists and said, "Ever since the Congress came to power in the state, there have been repeated incidents of attacks where RSS and Sangh Parivar activists have been targetted. Congress is indirectly responsibility for this. The state government is misusing the police department for political gimmicks," he alleged.

On the assault on BJP candidate by the winning Congress canddidate and supporters after APMC elections in Moodbidri, Ravi said, "The district in-charge minister and the local MLA are directly responsible for this incident. The Congressmen who attacked BJP supported candidate should be arrested and the false case filed against the BJP workers should be withdrawn.

He also demanded a high-level enquiry into claims by state higher education minister, Basavaraj Rayareddy that scams amounting to Rs 500 crore have occured in the universities of Karnataka, and appreciated the minister for saying so openly. Reddy, in a press meet on January 17, had said that scams have taken place in almost all the universities in Karnataka, and that the government was investigating them through committees headed by respective district deputy commissioners. He had also assured of action once the report was submitted.

Responding to the minister, C T Ravi said, "I congratulate the minister for making the statement openly, and we (BJP) demand a high-level probe into the matter. Congress is to be blamed for this scam, as it happened during the tenure of Hanraj Bhardwaj as governor of the state."

Commenting on reports that chief minister Siddaramaiah had called the police 'nalayak' (unworthy) at a meeting with higher officials of the police department, Ravi said, "Congress itself is nalayak. As many as 133 taluks have been declared drought-hit but no one from the Congress has visited these areas and no funds have been released by the Congress government to ease the situation.

"In 2008-2009, Rs 2019 was demanded by the state from the centre (when UPA was in power) for drought relief, but only Rs 185 crore was released. In 2009-2010, there was flood and the estimated loss of Rs 18,568 crore, and the demand was Rs 7,400 crore, but only Rs 1,457 crore was released. In 2011, Rs 3,609 crore was demanded and only Rs 282 crore was released. In 2013, Rs 11,489 crore was demanded and Rs 397 crore was released. in 2015-16, Rs 1,540 crore was released by the centre, and in 2016-2107, Rs 1,782 crore was released for drought relief.

"This shows that from 2015 to 2017, the highest amount of funds was released to the state by the centre. Hence, there is no point in claiming that the state gets less than the amount demanded from the centre. The state government is not utilising the funds in a proper manner. The Congress should concentate on proving jobs and eradicating unemployment," he said.

Speaking on the Yettinahole project, he said, "The DPR is not proper. Already Rs 8,300 crore has been spent on the project. Contrary to claims that 24 TMC of water would be got from this project, only 9.55 TMC would actually be available. The technical report has to be furnished in a proper way and the errors rectified at the earliest."

BJP leaders Sulochana Bhat, Yogish Bhat, Umanath Kotian, Monappa Bhandary and others were present.