CM rules out blanket permission to CBI

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, OCT. 11. The Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, today ruled out the State Government giving a blanket permission to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to inquire into corruption cases in the State.

He was speaking to presspersons after presenting the achievements of his Government, which completed two years on Thursday.

He said the CBI investigation was not the panacea for all problems. Besides, the State had been championing the cause of giving greater powers to States and was against concentration of all powers at the Centre. He said the State Government had given permission whenever the CBI approached it. He refuted the allegation that the Government was delaying permission whenever the CBI sought it.

To a question, Mr. Krishna denied the involvement of any minister in the violent incidents leading to police firing at Channapatna on Tuesday and said that on prima facie evidence a police sub- inspector had been kept under suspension.

Asked about the Opposition's demand seeking the resignation of the Minister for Cooperation, Mr. D. K. Shivakumar, for allegedly threatening the villagers, Mr. Krishna said Mr. Shivakumar was innocent and was not involved in the violence.

He said the Government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident and would initiate action after the report was submitted.

Referring to the ongoing agitation by farmers to lift the ban on tapping neera to contain the mite menace, Mr. Krishna said the Government had no proposal to lift the ban immediately. However, the Government had an open mind on the issue. If someone could prove scientifically that neera was not harmful, the Government might consider the demand for lifting the ban.

Earlier, Mr. Krishna claimed that the Government had achieved a lot in the past two years. There was a lot more to be achieved.

With the help of slides, Mr. Krishna presented his Government's achievements and said the focus of his Government would be the social sector during the next three years. The Government would work for social justice and welfare of SCs, STs, Backward Classes, minorities and other less privileged sections.

``Consensus approach and good governance'' would be the central theme of his Government in the next three years. All his ministerial colleagues were present at the presentation of his Government's achievements.

Airport: He said the work on the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli near Bangalore would begin in six months.

Mr. Krishna said six months time was only an ``outer limit.'' Construction could begin even before that. Asked if the construction of the airport would be completed within the next three years left for his Government, Mr. Krishna said: ``When we dedicate the international airport to the nation, a Congress Government will be here.''

Mr. Krishna said price negotiations with a Siemens-led consortium had been completed for the airport project and that both the State Government and the Airports Authority of India each would have 13 per cent stake in it.

He said the Environmental Public Hearing at project site was completed and a ``Consent for Establishment'' obtained.

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