Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 4: Reacting to a clarification issued by the zilla panchayat (ZP) president Raju Poojary that he had not supported the proposal to set up a separate central cooperative bank for the district because of the global economic slow down, MLA Raghupati Bhat has retorted by claiming that the establishment of the bank has no relevance to the global economic meltdown. Through a press release, he said on Wednesday December 3 that all the new districts will have central cooperative banks soon in terms of the state cabinet decision, including Udupi.

He has alleged that the ZP president and some other political leaders registered their opposition to the formation of the said bank to protect the individual and political interests of the president of the South Canara District Central Cooperative Bank and not in the best interests of the district. About the comment that the government failed to clear the dues of Brahmavar Sugar Factory to the farmers, Bhat said that the people know as to who were behind securing a stay order against the government's move to sell off 10 acres of land belonging to the said factory for clearing the above dues, by securing a stay order from the court.

Bhat also advised the ZP president and other cooperative leaders to introspect as to who were harming the interests of the district.