No move to curtail powers of Panchayaths: Yeddyurappa

Hubli, Oct 23 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today clarified that there was no move before the State Government to curtail powers of Panchayath bodies.

Talking to newsmen here, he said that the statement of Minister for Panchayath Raj Shobha Karandlaje has been misinterpreted and Congress has been making unnecessary hue and cry over the issue without any valid reason.

He said the Government has already released more than the expected financial aid to Taluk, Zilla and Gram Panchayaths during the fiscal and already there is serious thinking on giving more powers to these bodies.

Congress which has lost both moral rights and afraid of increased strength of the BJP is trying to create confusion in the minds of the people. "The leaders of that (Congress) party have been making mountain of a mole hill. This is an indication of collapsing moral base of the Congress," he ironically said.

The functioning of BJP Government has always been progressive and pro people. More and more allocation of funds is floated with a view to gain progress he said.

He also clarified that the Government had never favoured any Maths or Swamijis in the state. The Congress and other opposition parties always seek dirt in everything with a view of future elections. Their vote banking system will never succeed, he retorted and asked the opposition parties to extend cooperation in developmental works instead of continuously engaging in criticism.

He declared that the Government would sanction Rs One Crore for Kittur Festival every year from next year.

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