The Hindu : Statements: KPCC warns Congmen

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Statements: KPCC warns Congmen

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Jan. 21. One day after the AICC ruled out any change in the chief ministership, the KPCC clamped a ban on Congress leaders and others issuing statements to the press. The PCC President, Allum Veerabhadrappa, advised the leaders to discuss internal affairs in the party forums.

The immediate provocation for Mr. Veerabhadrappa's action seems to be a statement issued by four PCC leaders defending the Minister for Water Resources, H.K. Patil, against the charge of promoting dissident activity levelled against him.

The four who issued the statement were C.V. Rajappa, Parameshivaiah, and C. Rajanna (secretaries) and E.S. Chandrashekar (Joint Secretary).

However, Mr. Veerabhadrappa is silent on the ministers issuing statements accusing their colleagues of indulging in dissident activity.

On Sunday, two ministers of State, K.B. Koliwad and K.N. Gaddi, demanded the resignation of Mr. Patil. A fortnight ago, the Urban Development Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, hit out against Mr. Patil while in Delhi.

The PCC President said that even the junior-most Congress worker could express his opinion and air grievances in the Party forums. No party leader should go to the press, irrespective of the position he held. If they had any grievances, they could bring them to his notice or that of the AICC General Secretary in charge of the State (Vayalar Ravi) and even the AICC President, Sonia Gandhi.

However, this is not the first time Mr. Veerabhadrappa is attempting to restrain party members from going to the press. His warning, issued some months ago, went unheeded.

Meanwhile, the KPCC spokesman, V.S. Ugrappa, questioned the right of the JD(U) MLC and former minister, M.P. Prakash, to make a statement that dissidence in the Congress was the reason for the delay in the appointment of a new KPCC president. He advised Mr. Prakash to first consider the fact that it was his party which was the permanent "home" of infighting. It was the internal discord which had destroyed the Janata Dal more than once.

Mr. Ugrappa asserted that the delay in the appointment of the new president was because of the fact that the Congress was an all-India party. The party President, Sonia Gandhi, was well aware as to when she should appoint the next PCC president.

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