Transfer issue:KSE appeals to EC to act against state

Former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa appealed to the Election Commission to initiate action against the state government for transferring 52 tahsildars, several sub-inspectors of police and some ‘C’ group employees of the Social Welfare Department on Friday, while the model code of conduct is in force in the wake of the announcement of the polls to various urban local bodies (ULBs).

Addressing media persons, here, on Saturday, Eshwarappa said, “Siddaramaiah, who described me as ‘dadda’ (fool) the one who does not know the Constitution, should be ashamed of being the chairman of the coordination committee of the JD(S)-Congress government as all the three ministers, who holds the portfolios of Revenue, police and Social Welfare departments where transfers were effected, belong to the Congress party. The transfers are being effected while the poll code in force. Are Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah fools? Are they not aware of the model code of conduct,” he questioned.

Citing the expenditure of over Rs 70,000 on the provision of alcoholic beverages to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, during his visit to Bengaluru for the swearing-in ceremony of Kumaraswamy, he asked, Aren't the chief minister, his ministers and the officials aware of the rule that alcohol should not be served to state guests?

“The inflated bills claimed for hosting and entertaining all anti-Modi leaders of the nation during the swearing-in ceremony is a shame. The rooms for the guests were booked by the JD(S) functionaries, but the bills have been forwarded to the government for payment. Former chief secretary K Rathna Prabha has issued a statement that she sought for slashing of the bills and when it was not done, she forwarded them to the chief minister, as the expenses were exorbitant. But, the chief minister claims that he was not aware of the fact that the bills were exorbitant,” Eshwarappa pointed out.

Probe expenses

“Neither the BJP nor its leaders are asking about the expenses. The guests themselves are questioning it and are seeking a probe into the issue. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is shocked at the bills amounting to Rs 7.8 lakh for his stay for a few hours at a star hotel in Bengaluru. He has sought a probe into the issue. Even CPM leader Sitaram Yechury is shocked at the claims of expenses of Rs 64,000 in his name. So, the state government should probe the issue and see to it that the culprits are punished,” he said.

Describing the act of Kumaraswamy of transplanting paddy at Sitapura, in Pandavapura taluk, as a political gimmick, Eshwarappa challenged the chief minister to regularise the lands in the names of the farmers cultivating government lands, if he is really concerned about the farmers. “The amendment to clause 192 (a) of the Land Revenue Act was made by the JD(S)-BJP government. But, the later governments did not follow it up. At least now, Kumaraswamy should do it, to help bagair hukum cultivators,” he said.