Giving Reddys free run in Bellary was a mistake: DVS

“I admit that we (the ruling BJP) did a mistake by allowing them (three former ministers) to rule the district,” the chief minister said.

This confession of sorts by Gowda comes after his party allowed the Reddys to not only run the administration in Bellary, but also control the State Cabinet for nearly three years.

Speaking to reporters, he said it was a mistake on the part of the party to give full independence to two to three ministers to take care of the district. “We regret having left everything in their hands, and we assure people such a thing will not recur,” he added.

He said he had himself witnessed the goonda-like behaviour of the supporters of Sriramulu who is contesting as an Independent candidate in the byelection to the Bellary Rural constituency, during election campaigning in the district recently. The police have been directed to act sternly against such behaviour, he added.

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday had said thuggery in Bellary would not be tolearted. He even apologised to the people of the district for allowing them (the Reddys) to ‘misrule’ the district.

On Janata Dal (S) chief H D Deve Gowda’s hunger protest demanding a CBI probe into the alleged murder of a farmer agitating against the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project, he said the police had been conducting a fair probe and even arrested all the accused. 

“I told Gowda appropriate action will be taken. It is not proper to politicise all criminal investigations,” he added.