Mandya, Apr 21 (DHNS): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took Mandya Superintendent of Police C H Sudhir Kumar Reddy to task in full public view during a programme here on Thursday.

Siddaramaiah was upset that the police did not stop the BJP workers who crossed the path of his car and waved black flags at him here.

The chief minister is believed to have used harsh words against Reddy, a 2010 batch IPS officer, for his failure in intelligence gathering and preventing the protest by the BJP workers. Siddaramaiah is believed to have called the SP ‘useless fellow’ and asked him to ‘get out,’ after summoning him to the dais.

Confusion prevailed for a few minutes when the BJP workers displayed black flags, demanding waiver of farm loans when the chief minister was on his way to Shanthi College Grounds here to launch various development programmes. More than 50 BJP workers tried to stop the chief minister’s car and shouted slogans.

However, the police intervened and brought the situation under control. They took six people into custody.

Speaking at the programme, Siddaramaiah said banks have been strictly told not to serve notices on farmers, demanding repayment of loans till the region receives a good spell of rains and yield.

“There are plans to extend the loan term that ended in March, for the benefit of farmers. Labour should be paid to the workers and fodder provided to cattle on time. Neither the BJP nor the JD(S) has the moral right to criticise the Congress government,” he said.

CM caught napping

Siddaramaiah was caught napping on the dais during the programme. The chief minister slipped into a nap when Energy Minister D K Shivakumar was addressing the gathering.

Siddaramaiah inadvertently pushed his spectacles with his left index finger while he was asleep. He woke up once his spectacles fell on the stage. Malavalli MLA P M Narendraswamy picked the glasses and gave them to Siddaramaiah.

Soon, a ‘drowsy’ Siddaramaiah was given a cup of coffee, which spilled on his white dhoti. Again, Narendraswamy rushed to Siddaramaih’s aid and wiped the chief minister’s dhoti with his handkerchief.