No move to curtail powers of Panchayats: Yeddyurappa

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

Talking to newspersons here, he said the statement of Minister for Panchayat Raj Shobha Karandlaje was misinterpreted and Congress has been making a hue and cry over the issue without any valid reason.

Mr Yeddyurappa said the state government had already released more than the expected financial aid to Taluk, Zilla and Gram Panchayaths during the fiscal. Already there was a thinking on giving more powers to these bodies, he added.

Congress was afraid of increased strength of the BJP and was trying to create confusion in the minds of the people. ''This is an indication of the collapsing moral-base of the Congress,'' he charged.

The Chief Minister said the functioning of the BJP Government has always been progressive and pro-people.

He clarified that the Government had never favoured any Maths or Swamijis in the State. The Congress and other opposition parties always see dirt in everything with an eye on elections.

Their vote bank politics will never succeed, he charged and asked the opposition parties to extend cooperation in developmental works instead of continuously engaging in criticism.

The Government would sanction Rs one crore for Kittur Festival every year from next year, he added.

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