Kharge to hold talks with Srinivasa

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, FEB. 23. The State Cabinet today authorised the Home Minister, Mr. M. Mallikarjun Kharge, to hold talks with the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Mr. K.H. Srinivasa, on the nature of inquiry to be conducted into the acid attack on Ms. Channamma Deve Gowda, wife of the former Prime Minister, Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda.

The decision was taken in the light of the demand for a CBI inquiry made by Mr. Srinivasa.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, on Thursday, Mr. Srinivasa had expressed shock over the acid attack and alleged that some political forces were behind the ugly incident. There might have been a political motive behind the incident to cause mental agony to Mr. Deve Gowda.

Mr. Srinivasa said only an inquiry by the CBI would reveal the mystery behind the attack on Ms. Deve Gowda and her daughter-in- law and wife of Mr. H.D. Revanna, Ms. Bhavani.

The Minister for Major and Medium Irrigation, Mr. H.K. Patil, told presspersons that the Government would take a decision on the nature of the inquiry based on the recommendations of Mr. Kharge.

On the controversial decision to effect a 15 per cent cut in the grant to aided educational institutions, he said the Cabinet decided to ``seriously apply its mind'' on the plea against the cut in the grant made by a number of associations and delegations.

He parried a question as to whether the Government would sympathetically consider the demand for restoration of the grant without any cut, but said that it would apply its mind on the issue.

He said the Cabinet also discussed the difficulties faced by farmers in the wake of the fall in prices of foodgrains, and urged the Centre to extend the deadline for procurement from February 28 to April-end. Mr. Patil said adequate storage facilities had been arranged for storing maize in Raichur District. Arrangements had also been made to enable the Food Corporation of India to procure foodgrains, he added.

He said the Cabinet also decided to reinstate three officers, including Mr. Sridhar, IAS, who were suspended for the delay in the procurement of foodgrains. The Government was satisfied with their explanations.

Mr. Patil said the Cabinet discussed the complaints of irregularities in the Karnataka Pulp Wood Limited, which had secured Rs. 13.91 crores from three nationalised banks in 1981 but had not returned the amount. As a result, the loan amount had accumulated to Rs. 23 crores.

The loan was secured for entering into a joint venture with the Karnataka Forest Corporation. The delay in repayment of the loan was due to the lapse on the part of the officials. The Cabinet had authorised Mr. Ravindra, Additional Chief Secretary, to conduct an inquiry into the matter and initiate action against the officials responsible for the lapse.

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Section  : Southern States
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