No proposal to bring B Sriramulu into Congress: Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa

Mahadevappa told reporters on Saturday that it seems to be an attempt to create rift within the Congress party by circulating information that Sriramulu was being roped in the party to counter influence of Satish Jarkiholi.

Belagavi: Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa said that its all speculations that Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D K Shivakumar has been making efforts to get BJP leader and former minister B Sriramulu into the Congress party to counter Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi with both of them belonging to the same Valmiki community.

As of now there was no proposal to bring Sriramulu into Congress.

Dr Mahadevappa told reporters here on Saturday that it seems to be an attempt to create rift within the Congress party by circulating information that Sriramulu was being roped in the party to counter influence of Satish Jarkiholi.

To a query that Shivakumar had invited Sriramulu into Congress, he said, during the assembly election to win maximum seats such efforts could have been made as part of one of the strategies which had been adopted. Congress now has 136 MLAs.

He said, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led government has not targeted the Mysuru royal family over the properties. After independence, all princely states became part of the Indian republic, and their properties were transferred to the government.

There has been dispute over some of the properties in Mysuru. During the emergency cabinet meet held on Friday, it was decided that more compensation cannot be given to the royal family for the lands acquired for roads and other developmental projects.

Dr Mahadevappa said, microfinances have been given licenses by Reserve Bank of India and Cooperation Department and they have to work within the guidelines. There was no scope for harassment in the guidelines for recovery of loans. To protect interests of the people, necessary measures would be taken if debtors were harassed.