Date:13/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/13/stories/2007051307770400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bangarappa seeks probe into grants for maths

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Samajwadi Party State president S. Bangarappa on Saturday demanded the immediate withdrawal of grants given to various maths, including Ramachandrapura Math, which were not engaged in any public service such as offering education or hostel facilities to poor children.

Speaking to presspersons after a meeting of the State Committee of the party, Mr. Bangarappa accused Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa of granting funds to religious institutions to boost the prospects of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the State.

He demanded an inquiry into the grants provided by the Government for holding a cow conference (go sammelan) at Hosanagar in Shimoga district and to a small math in Shikaripur, which is not involved in public service. (Shikaripur is Mr. Yediyurappa's constituency.)

It was intriguing why Mr. Yediyurappa, who holds the Finance portfolio, had not extended the Government's largesse to smaller temples, dargahs and churches patronised by the marginalised and the poor.

Mr. Bangarappa said that during his tenure as Chief Minister he had implemented a scheme called Aradhana to renovate places of worship, including Maramma and Beerappa temples.

Mr. Bangarappa wanted the Government to stop auctioning government land retrieved from encroachers. Land already auctioned should not be handed over, as it would only help multinational companies and builders.

He attributed the defeat of his party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections to the low voter turnout and the Election Commission's actions.

He said the party would not field a candidate for the Ullal Assembly byelection.

It would support the candidate put up by the Left parties.