<p>Shivamogga: State JD(S) Youth Wing President Nikhil Kumaraswamy appealed to the police to discharge their duties promptly and ensure justice for geologist Jyothi allegedly abused by Bhadravathi MLA’s son.</p><p>Addressing activists during a protest rally in Bhadravathi organised on Friday by JD(S) in protest against the alleged harassment by MLA and his family members, Nikhil said government officials are scared to work in Bhadravathi due to interference by the MLA and his family.</p><p>“People voted for the MLA in the polls. But his son is governing the constituency now,” he said and wondered who gave him the right to do so.</p><p><strong>‘Teach lesson in polls’</strong></p><p>Nikhil also claimed that he had not called even a single government official seeking favours when his father H D Kumaraswamy was the state’s chief minister twice. But in Bhadravathi, the situation is contrast. Bhadravathi people must become aware of the high-handed MLA and his family and teach them a lesson in the polls, he said.</p><p>Daring the Congress government in Karnataka to direct the police to book an FIR against the MLA’s son and send the audio clip to the Forensic Science Laboratory, Nikhil said the Congress government immediately arrested BJP MLC C T Ravi for his alleged derogatory remarks against minister Laxmi Hebbalkar but did not adhere to the same rules in the Bharavathi case.</p><p>Taking a dig at MLA B K Sangamesh, he alleged him of encouraging gambling, sand mafia and pushing youths towards drugs.</p><p>“I had heard about the MLA’s son’s behaviour in the past. But now, it has become public. It is unfortunate that people are forced to surrender themselves to the MLA’s family here. Democracy is under threat in the taluk,” Nikhil lamented.</p><p><strong>Gem of Bhadravathi</strong></p><p>Describing former MLA M J Appaji as an unforgettable gem of Bhadravathi, he said Appaji was elected as an MLA thirce and always worked for people’s welfare. He never made property worth crores. Unfortunately, he died during Covid-19. His wife Sharada Appaji lost the previous assembly polls by a narrow margin.</p><p><strong>Rejuvenation of VISP</strong></p><p>Nikhil Kumaraswamy claimed that Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy succeeded in allocating Rs 11,440 crore funds to revive Vizag Steel which will uplift 26,000 families, in just six months. </p><p>Similarly, Kumaraswamy has taken the rejuvenation of Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel Plant (VISP) established by Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya in Bhadravathi as a challenge. The plant needs grants of Rs 15,000 crore for rejuvenation. Efforts are going on to rejuvenate VISP and Tamil Nadu’s Salem Steel Plant.</p><p><strong>Bhadravathi has turned into a casino: Sharada Appaji Gowda</strong></p><p>JD(S) State General Secretary Sharada M J Appaji Gowda said, “It will not be surprising if the sitting MLA claims that the person who verbally abused a female officer, is not his son. This is the kind of politics going on in the taluk. No development work has been implemented in the taluk for two years. The supporters of the MLA are operating gambling activities on the streets of Bhadravathi. Bhadravati has been transformed into a casino model.”</p><p>Shivamogga Rural MLA Sharada Poorya Naik, former MLA K B Prasanna Kumar, Taluk JD(S) Youth Wing President Ajith Appaji, BJP Taluk Unit President Dharmaprasad, State JD(S) General Secretary Sharada Appaji and others were present on the occasion.</p><p>Earlier, they took out a protest rally from Madhavachar circle to taluk office. Later, a memorandum was submitted to the taluk administration demanding the arrest of S Basavesh, the son of MLA.</p>
<p>Shivamogga: State JD(S) Youth Wing President Nikhil Kumaraswamy appealed to the police to discharge their duties promptly and ensure justice for geologist Jyothi allegedly abused by Bhadravathi MLA’s son.</p><p>Addressing activists during a protest rally in Bhadravathi organised on Friday by JD(S) in protest against the alleged harassment by MLA and his family members, Nikhil said government officials are scared to work in Bhadravathi due to interference by the MLA and his family.</p><p>“People voted for the MLA in the polls. But his son is governing the constituency now,” he said and wondered who gave him the right to do so.</p><p><strong>‘Teach lesson in polls’</strong></p><p>Nikhil also claimed that he had not called even a single government official seeking favours when his father H D Kumaraswamy was the state’s chief minister twice. But in Bhadravathi, the situation is contrast. Bhadravathi people must become aware of the high-handed MLA and his family and teach them a lesson in the polls, he said.</p><p>Daring the Congress government in Karnataka to direct the police to book an FIR against the MLA’s son and send the audio clip to the Forensic Science Laboratory, Nikhil said the Congress government immediately arrested BJP MLC C T Ravi for his alleged derogatory remarks against minister Laxmi Hebbalkar but did not adhere to the same rules in the Bharavathi case.</p><p>Taking a dig at MLA B K Sangamesh, he alleged him of encouraging gambling, sand mafia and pushing youths towards drugs.</p><p>“I had heard about the MLA’s son’s behaviour in the past. But now, it has become public. It is unfortunate that people are forced to surrender themselves to the MLA’s family here. Democracy is under threat in the taluk,” Nikhil lamented.</p><p><strong>Gem of Bhadravathi</strong></p><p>Describing former MLA M J Appaji as an unforgettable gem of Bhadravathi, he said Appaji was elected as an MLA thirce and always worked for people’s welfare. He never made property worth crores. Unfortunately, he died during Covid-19. His wife Sharada Appaji lost the previous assembly polls by a narrow margin.</p><p><strong>Rejuvenation of VISP</strong></p><p>Nikhil Kumaraswamy claimed that Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy succeeded in allocating Rs 11,440 crore funds to revive Vizag Steel which will uplift 26,000 families, in just six months. </p><p>Similarly, Kumaraswamy has taken the rejuvenation of Visvesvaraya Iron & Steel Plant (VISP) established by Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya in Bhadravathi as a challenge. The plant needs grants of Rs 15,000 crore for rejuvenation. Efforts are going on to rejuvenate VISP and Tamil Nadu’s Salem Steel Plant.</p><p><strong>Bhadravathi has turned into a casino: Sharada Appaji Gowda</strong></p><p>JD(S) State General Secretary Sharada M J Appaji Gowda said, “It will not be surprising if the sitting MLA claims that the person who verbally abused a female officer, is not his son. This is the kind of politics going on in the taluk. No development work has been implemented in the taluk for two years. The supporters of the MLA are operating gambling activities on the streets of Bhadravathi. Bhadravati has been transformed into a casino model.”</p><p>Shivamogga Rural MLA Sharada Poorya Naik, former MLA K B Prasanna Kumar, Taluk JD(S) Youth Wing President Ajith Appaji, BJP Taluk Unit President Dharmaprasad, State JD(S) General Secretary Sharada Appaji and others were present on the occasion.</p><p>Earlier, they took out a protest rally from Madhavachar circle to taluk office. Later, a memorandum was submitted to the taluk administration demanding the arrest of S Basavesh, the son of MLA.</p>
