Date:28/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/28/stories/2006102812010400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kharge sees bias in development works

Special Correspondent

M. Mallikarjun Kharge

BANGALORE: The Congress has accused the Government, a coalition of the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party, of discrimination in the sanctioning of development works, high schools and pre-university colleges.

Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore here on Friday, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president M. Mallikarjun Kharge charged that out of 447 works identified by the Government under the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) scheme, 200 went to constituencies represented by JD(S) and BJP MLAs and 12 in favour of constituencies represented by the Congress. A sum of Rs. 600 crore was sanctioned for the works.

Out of 447 high schools sanctioned by the Kumaraswamy government, 189 were allotted to constituencies represented by JD(S) legislators, 135 to those with BJP legislators, 47 to those with Congress legislators and 76 to constituencies represented by others, he claimed. Of the 45 Morarji Desai Residential Schools sanctioned, 42 were allotted to JD(S) constituencies and just three to those represented by his party, he said.

Out of 202 pre-university colleges sanctioned, 82 and 66 were allotted to constituencies represented by the JD(S) and the BJP respectively. Constituencies represented by Congress legislators got just 19 and others 25, Mr. Kharge said.

Backward districts were discriminated against in the sanctioning of colleges, and only couple of colleges were sanctioned in Chamarajanagar and Kolar districts. All 12 first grade government colleges sanctioned were in constituencies represented by the coalition partners, he said.

`Funds not used'

The Government had failed to utilise funds sanctioned under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in five districts. Only 21 per cent of the funds had been used by September end. The Congress would organise massive rallies across the State next month to expose what he termed the Government's failure on all fronts, Mr. Kharge said.