Even as a few leaders and activists issued statements — both, for and against — in connection with the filing of a complaint by Deputy Commissioner Dr Ajay Nagabushan against G Madegowda, former MP alleging that latter issued a life threat to him, members of a few organisations staged a road-block in Maddur.
Members of Maddur taluk unit of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and G Madegowda Abhimanigala Balaga blocked the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway near Maddur KSRTC bus stand and shouted slogans against the deputy commissioner, demanding withdrawal of the case. Vehicular traffic on the highway was affected for nearly one hour.
Later, the agitators marched towards the Mini Vidhana Soudha and staged a dharna.
They submitted a memorandum to the State government, through Shirastedar Kariappa urging the government to drop the case.
Taluk Panchayat member Rajeev said that as a people’s representative and president of Jilla Raitha Hitharakshana Vedike, Madegowda’s contributions to the development of the district have been immense.
It may be recalled that Madegowda had used harsh words against the deputy commissioner as well as Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad during a meeting convened by the minister at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in the city recently to discuss various issues. He had demanded the Deputy Commissioner’s dismissal for his failure to sanction land for the Gandhi Grama project of the Gandhi Memorial Trust.
Meanwhile, president of the district unit of Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association K Nagesh has condemned the behaviour of Madegowda and has defended Dr Nagabushan.
Addressing a press conference, Nagesh said that Dr Nagabushan is a sincere officer and he is striving for the development of the district. “Even Madegowda is a tall leader, but he should not have spoken so lightly about the officier,” he said.
Secretary of Bharathi Education Trust Nanjegowda said, Madegowda is rude by nature and he does not mean what he says. “It is only his way of pushing for his proposal as it is pending since a long time,” he said.
“The Revenue department has directed the Deputy Commissioner to forward a proposal in consultation with the Prisons and the Sericulture departments, which are also concerned with the lands on survey no 49 at Malligere village, but the papers are not moving,” Nanjegowda pointed out.
Members of Vokkaligara Seva Trust and Rajya Raitha Haagu Karmikara Hitharakshana Trust have also supported Madegowda and have demanded the withdrawal of the case.