Sakleshpur MLA H K Kumaraswamy alleged that District in-charge Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa has insulted local legislators, by violating protocol.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Kumaraswamy charged that the minister had turned the government programme into a Congress party’s function.

He said that a letter was dispatched from the minister’s office on Saturday, informing about Mahadevappa’s visit to Shiradi Ghat on Sunday. The deputy commissioner’s office too intimated him on the minister’s visit, but there was no proper invitation for the MLA.

The minister not just visited Shiradi Ghat to inspect the works, but formally inaugurated the upgraded road, which was thrown open for public, he said.

The letter from the minister’s office had directions to inform about the visit to all officials, Congress district and taluk units, but had omitted the legislators, which is a blatant violation of protocol, he claimed.

Moreover, the minister, during his visit to the taluks, should be accompanied by the local MLAs to the venue of the programmes so as to enable discussion about the issues. Mahadevappa is always surrounded by Congress party workers, he critisised.

There are several issues like deficit rain and farmers’ woes that need to be discussed during his visit to the taluk. But he is visiting taluk is very rarely, he complained.

‘No need for a tunnel’
Commenting on the statement of Mahadevappa of considering a proposal for the construction of a tunnel in Shiradi Ghat, Kumaraswamy said there is no need for the tunnel that costs crores of rupees.

The problem can be solved by constructing an overbridge and an underpass, he observed.