Circular issue: Cong stages walkout in K'taka Council

Bangalore, June 26 (UNI) The opposition Congress today staged a walkout in the Karnataka Legislative Council in protest against the JD(S)-BJP coalition government interfering in the functioning of Panchayat Raj institutions.

Raising the issue in the House, Congress member D M Putte Gowda pointed out that the state government in its circular, dated May 26, had instructed all the Zilla Panchayats (ZPs) to give weightage to the proposals submitted by legislators while preparing the action plan for utilising the grants allocated by the Centre under the 12th Finance Commission and said it amounted to dilution of powers enjoyed by the Panchayat Raj institutions.

Leader of the Opposition H K Patil said by issuing such a circular, the state government had encroached on the independent authority of the ZPs and demanded immediate withdrawal of the circular.

Describing the impugnant circular as a 'black circular,' he said the government had issued it to appease the legislators who were supporting it.

Other Congress members, including Motamma, V S Ugrappa, V S Sudarshan and Pratapchandra Shetty and independent Arun Machaiah also criticised the government's move and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular.

Defending the circular, Panchayat Raj Minister C M Udasi said the circular was issued to ensure proper implementation of works and utilisation of grants to the tune of Rs 210.63 crore released by the Centre for 2006-07 for taking up maintainence of rural roads and bridges and buildings.

Denying the opposition charge that the government was trying to dilute the powers of the Panchayat Raj Institutions, he said the circular was issued to remove confusions, if any, with regard to the implementation of various works and also bring a kind of 'synergy' between the legislators and elected representatives of Panchayat Raj institutions.

Dissatified with the Minister's reply, the Congress members, led by Mr Patil, staged a walkout before Chairman Sachidananda Khot adjourned the House proceedings to tomorrow.

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