Belgaum session to divert people's attention: Dharam Singh

Gulbarga, Sep 23 (UNI) Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly N Dharam Singh today alleged that the Government's decision to hold a special session of the Legislature in Belgaum was only to divert people's attention from various scams, including Rs 150 crore bribery charge against the Chief Minister.

Addressing a press conference here, he made it clear that the Congress was in favour of holding a Legislature session in Belgaum, but pointed out that no agenda had been set for the session.

''I saw in newspapers that the Legislature session will be held in Belgaum. I did not receive any official communication till recently,'' he said.

Mr Singh blamed the Government for deciding to hold the session in Belgaum without forming Business Advisory Committee and without discussing with the Opposition and evolving a clear agenda.

Stating that the Congress had convened a Legislature Party meeting in Belgaum on September 25 to evolve a strategy, he said it would raise the border issue with Maharashtra, drought, office-of-profit bill and demand CBI inquiry into the Rs 150 crore mining scam in the session.

The former Chief Minister clarified that the Congress would support the bandh call given by various Kannada organisations on October four to protest against the Centre's attitude on the border dispute.

Referring to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's statement that the Congress was trying to topple the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government, Mr Singh criticised Mr Gowda for pursuing ''chor bachao'' politics and trying to protect his son and described him as an ''opportunist''.

He said Congress leaders from the State had recently apprised AICC President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the political situation in the State. ''We appealed to the Prime Minister to entrust the Rs 150 crore mining scam with the CBI.'' UNI DP GD RKN1751