Centre not cooperating as expected: Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, Feb 2: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today expressed displeasure over the United Progressive Alliance Government's attitude towards Karnataka and said it was not to the expected level.

Though he had established a good rapport with most of the UPA Ministers, ''it is unfortunate that several issues have remained undecided despite the State putting maximum efforts...The response of the Centre to the State is not to the expected level,'' he told in an interview on the completion of one year in office of the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government in the State.

Referring to the serious drought conditions prevailing in the State, the Chief Minister regretted that the Centre had not realised the gravity of the situation. ''As against the State's request for Rs 1,500 crore to tackle the situation, it only gave Rs 250 crore and the State Government had already spent more than Rs 500 crore.'' Several proposals, including those relating to development of Railways in the State, were pending in various Union Ministries, he lamented.

Mr Kumaraswamy said the State stood first in terms of following financial guidelines and the financial position of the State was ''sound and healthy''.

He called for a ''total change in the system'' and felt it could be achieved only through change in mindset among the elected representatives. ''Personally speaking, I am satisfied with whatever measures I have initiated in improving the lots in society in the last one year. But to set right the system, it needed the cooperation of one and all.''

Mr Kumaraswamy pointed out that loopholes in the existing financial policies had widened the gap between the rich and the poor and wanted immediate changes, keeping in view globalisation and liberalisation. ''Any elected Government should have a pragmatic approach to solve people's sufferings,'' he added. To a question, he said the elected representatives played a greater role in ensuring that the welfare programmes reached the needy. ''I cannot say we have given good governance. But I can surely claim that I have tried honestly to give a new direction to the Government,'' he remarked, stating that his top priority was to help the numerous families which did not have a square meal a day.

Mr Kumaraswamy said if the elected representatives failed to discharge their duties for which the people had elected them, then the future of developmental aspects of those constituencies would be bleak. He referred to the D M Nanjundappa Committee report on disparities in backward regions of the State and said 39 most backward taluks as mentioned in the report were represented by some leaders who had got elected to the Assembly on numerous occasions.

An open debate was very much needed on such issues, he observed.

On the Government's decision to waive farm loans, he said he knew it would only provide temporary succour to the farmers' problems.

However, it would instill self-confidence in the farming community.

His Government would also concentrate on creating permanent infrastructural facilities such as cold storages and proper marketing to ensure reasonable price for agricultural produce in future, he added.

To a question, Mr Kumaraswamy said his conduct towards bureaucracy had instilled confidence among them and had cleared doubts about the uncertainty of the Government. There would be smooth transfer of power at the end of the 20th month to coalition partner BJP as agreed upon earlier, he said, adding that ''I have repeatedly told that we will abide by the condition that was decided upon before forming the coalition Government last year.

There is no question of going back.'' Giving a clean chit to the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said the leaders were cooperating well. It was natural in any coalition set up to have some minor pinpricks.

Asked whether JD(S) would join hands with BJP to fight the next Assembly elections, Mr Kumaraswamy did not rule out the possibility saying that anything might happen in the coalition era.

Sounding a word of caution to his Cabinet colleagues, the Chief Minister said they should not think that there would be no reshuffle in the Ministry for the next eight months. ''I will review the functioning of Ministers and will not hesitate to remove inefficient Ministers anytime,'' he warned.

Mr Kumaraswamy denied that he was working through a ''remote control'' (party President and his father H D Deve Gowda) and said it was just an allegation. However, it was true that he consulted him on some issues for suggestions, considering his vast experience, he added.

He said the state was committed to ban sale of arrack and adequate measures were being taken to ensure that the consequent revenue loss was made up through other resources.

UNI