Congress demands dismissal of 'warring ministers'

Bangalore, May 18 (UNI) Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary and party spokesperson V S Ugrappa today demanded that Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, sack three cabinet colleagues for indulging in 'mud-slinging' against each other on the issue of releasing tree sapplings to Vanasamvardhana Trust.

Addressing press persons here, he said the allegations levelled by Forest Minister Channigappa against two other ministers had brought disrespect to the democratic set up and violated the rules of conduct in maintaining the oath of secrecy.

He said the discussions that took place in the cabinet meetings had been leaked and the Chief Minister should immediately sack the ministers responsible for it.

The outburst of Forest Minister against the ministers belonging to his own party was violative of the provisions of Article 164(3) of the Constitution, he pointed out.

Referring to Ullal byelection on June 2, Mr Ugrappa alleged that JD(S) President and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had fielded the party candidate only with an intention to divide the minority votes and to support the communal forces.

As Congress candidate U T Fareed was getting overwhelming support from all sections of the society, the party would emerge victorious, he claimed.

UNI