Cong's 'show of strength' draws flak from Mysureans

Govt programme throws life out of gear in Heritage City

‘Kotta Mathu Ditta Sadhane’, the Mysuru region programme of the Karnataka state government to distribute benefits to the people of eight districts, evoked mixed response from the residents of the city as well as the beneficiaries.

It was so much of an ‘out and out Congress convention’ that PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa had to officially claim that it was a pure state government programme and not show of strength by the party.

While the presence of Dr Yathindra, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, could be explained with his recent nomination as the chairman of the Housing Schemes Awareness Committee of Varuna Assembly constituency, the audience were wondering why Mahadevappa’s son Sunil Bose was provided a seat in the front row on the dais as Bose is an accused in a bribery case and is facing trial in a court of law.

Many Congress leaders, including K Marigowda, who has been charged with harassing former Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, district Congress presidents B J Vijay Kumar (rural), R Murthy (city) and many women Congress members were seated prominently on the dais.

As over 700 buses and hundreds of vehicles had ferried Congress party workers, including the beneficiaries, to the city for the event, there were people and vehicles everywhere around the venue, the Maharaja’s College ground, in the heart of the city. Eateries and liquor shops in the vicinity did brisk business even though the organisers had provided good food, mostly non-vegetarian, in their respective vehicles. People were seen consuming liquor on the pavements near the shops.

Karthik, a resident of Krishnamurthypuram, said that the roads leading to his area became congested as buses were parked on the roads in a row. “Traffic snarls on most of the main roads in the heart of the city are a rarity but today the city looked crowded. At least 50% of the people ferried for the event were loitering around in the city. They seemed more interested in sight-seeing. The organisers could likewise, have arranged a local tour for them. There was no need to bring them from long distances just to see some 80 people receiving the benefits from the Chief Minister. Nowadays, all Grama Panchayats have the facility for videoconferencing. They could have watched the event in their respective GPs. Television channels also broadcast the event. So, it is foolish on the part of the government to spend so much money and energy on this event. Benefits should reach the doorstep of the people. There is no need to show-off if a government is efficient,” he said.

Somasekhar, a resident of Chamaraja Mohalla, said that, “Mysuru has recently lost the top position in the list of the cleanest cities. Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has announced various measures to make the city ‘cleanest’ again. One of them is the plastic-free city initiative. But, flex and banners have been put up indiscriminately for the event at vantage points in the city. The MCC has been rendered helpless,” he said.
DH News Service