Ex-MLA seeks action on CEO

Alleging irregularities in employment guarantee scheme and criticising the style of functioning of Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat Anjan Kumar, former MLA of Arkalgud A T Ramaswamy along with hundreds of party workers staged a demonstration in front of the ZP office in the city on Wednesday.

The agitators took out a bike rally from the residence of Ramaswamy at Bhailahalli of Arkalgud taluk and the ex-MLA Ramaswamy too participated. The rally passed through main roads of the city and the agitators raised slogans. Later, they laid siege to the ZP office.

The protesters contended that irregularities worth crores of rupees had happened in the employment guarantee scheme in Arkalgud taluk. Although, the CEO and senior officials had been given information regarding the embezzlement of funds the latter failed to act. Despite involvement of around 17 officials in the scam, action has been only initiated against three officers. The idea behind this was to bury the scam.

Ramaswamy said the district administration had failed to select genuine beneficiaries for the Ashraya scheme. This had defeated the purpose of the government scheme in the taluk.

He also took the CEO to task for turning blind eye to all these happenings inspite of bringing to his notice several times. The government should take action on the CEO and the executive officer of Arakalgud taluk panchayat holding them responsible for the scam. “I will do padayatra from Arakalgud taluk to Hassan ZP office if the government fails to take action against them”, he warned.

The protest was joined by ZP Vice-President Parvathamma, Nanjundachar, Nanjundaswamy, Shankar, Santoshgowda and others.