JD(S) leaders, workers stage protest against Cong. govt in Hassan

Hassan district unit of the Janata Dal (Secular) staged a protest in the city, citing failures of the Congress government in the State on Monday.

Hundreds of party workers took part in the protest march that began at the Hemavathi Statue Circle. They raised slogans against the State government and gathered on the premises of the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

The leaders of JD(S) alleged corruption in allotting houses to beneficiaries of housing schemes and demanded the resignation of Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. They took the government to task for the deaths of cricket fans in a stampede during the celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory in Bengaluru.

About the fungal disease affecting the maize crop in the district, the protesters demanded compensation for the farmers.

Former Minister H.D. Revanna alleged that law and order had collapsed in the district. The police refuse to book assault cases in Holenarasipur, he alleged.

He also alleged that the ruling party was engaged in large-scale corruption in the name of transfers. Mr. Revanna claimed that he had never seen such a scale of corruption in his long career in politics.

Referring to vacancies in the Agriculture and Horticulture Department, Mr. Revanna said that there were no officers to address problems faced by farmers. The government had no concern for farmers, he said.

MLA for Arkalgud A. Manju alleged that in his constituency, houses were sanctioned only to those who paid the bribe. The government had no funds to take up development works. MLA for Shravanabelgola C.N. Balakrishna said the Congress government had failed on all fronts. The families who lost their houses during heavy rains did not get even compensation. MLA for Hassan H.P. Swaroop said the government had no funds even to fill up potholes.

The leaders submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner K.S. Lathakumari.