Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)
Belagavi, Dec 11: The enmity between municipal administrations minister, Ramesh Jarkiholi and MLA, Laxmi Hebbalkar, continues as none of them seem to have buried their hatchets. Verbal exchange which was witnessed between these two Congress leaders in the past, has surfaced again.
When chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, arrived at Sambra airport here to take part in the assembly session, minister, Ramesh Jarkiholi, was conspicuous by his absence. He was expected to be there on behalf of the district administration to receive the chief minister. When the media persons approached Hebbalkar to know the reason for the minister's absence, she quipped by questioning whether they think she happens to be the minster's public relations officer (PRO).
"Being an MLA from this district, I have come to welcome our chief minister. I do not know why Jarkiholi has not come. I invariably come to welcome whenever dignitaries come here," she clarified.
Reacting angrily to Laxmi Hebbalkar's statement, Ramesh Jarkiholi wanted to know what happened to her after being a PRO for five years. "I am district in-charge minister, not a showman. I do not like unnecessary publicity. I had not welcomed even when Siddaramaiah the then chief minister came here. I did not go there to welcome Kumaraswamy this time. There is no need to assign any new purpose or meaning to it," he said.
Not taking this statement lying down, Laxmi Hebbalkar asked the minister to clarify when she was PRO and for whom. "Ramesh Jarkiholi should not forget that I happen to be an MLA. In politics no one is friend or foe forever. When good days come our way in future, we have to forget bitter moments. I wish Ramesh sir speaks with respect and decorum," she stated.
She said that the minister is expected to put together opinions of all the legislators here for achieving overall development of Belagavi district. She said that things like how many factories function in the district, whether youngsters from here have to shift to other districts in search of jobs etc have to be collected. "We attend the session to discuss and thrash out our problems. We cannot go on fighting with each other. I have been viewing everything positively. It is in the interests of everyone to stop this blame game here and now," she added.