Congress threatens state-wide agitations

BANGALORE: Vehemently opposing the induction of those persons whose names figure in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining, the Congress has threatened to launch a state-wide agitation if the chief minister ignores the recommendations of the report.Briefing newsmen on the deliberations of the first meeting of the newly constituted executive committee of the KPCC here on Saturday, Dr G Parameshwar said that a resolution on illegal mining - demanding the state government take punitive action against those responsible for the Rs 16,085 crore loss to the state exchequer - was passed at the meeting.The KPCC president urged the government to initiate immediate measures to initiate criminal proceedings against the four former ministers and 787 officials who had allegedly abetted the illegal extraction and export of natural resources in the state.On the involvement of some Congressmen in illegal mining, Dr Parmeshwar said, “We have already slapped notices on party MP Anil Lad and MLA V Muniyappa.”On the alleged involvement of some media personnel in cahoots with the illegal mining mafia in the state, he said: “You are the reflection of society; if there are any black sheep in your midst they must be held be responsible.”He said that members of the Executive Committee, in an another resolution, expressed concern over the irregular release of pension to widows, old people and the physically handicapped. “Over 35 lakh people in the state belonging to these categories suffer due to improper release of funds,” he added. Dr Parmeshwar, while pointing out that no fresh applications for pension were accepted by the state government in the last seven months, said that it was staring at financial bankruptcy. He asserted that the government has failed to provide seeds, fertilisers and minimum procurement price for various crops to farmers.The Congress also expressed concern at the failure of the BJP government in providing houses to the poor, reclamation of rain-affected farm lands and regularisation of Bagair Hukum lands.