Chikmagalur MLA and former higher education minister C T Ravi criticised the State government for passing Karnataka Panchayat Raj Amendment Bill that makes provision for the disqualification of gram panchayat and ward sabha members who fail to convene meetings for at least twice in a year.
Addressing media persons on Friday, Ravi said the amendment bill will not serve any purpose especially when the gram panchayats are not given financial autonomy and are not sanctioned the posts of engineers and accountants. When no action is taken against those MLAs who do not attend the Assembly sessions and also do not visit their constituencies for a long time, then why make poor and illiterate gram panchayat presidents and members scapegoats for not convening meetings. Let the government hike the funds to GPs and appoint full-time staff and then propose the matter of disqualification, he stated.
He also suggested the government to share the responsibility of deciding on convening panchayat meetings, among the GP presidents and panchayat development officers and make both of them accountable if they fail to convene meetings on time. “Despite the opposition from the opposition parties, the Assembly has passed the bill. But, the BJP will raise objections when the bill is tabled in the Council,” he said.
Though Ravi did not use the occasion to appreciate or criticise the newly formed government, he criticised Chief Minister Siddharamaiah for passing communal statement. “When the CM inducted K J George as home minister to his Cabinet, he claimed that he chose the home minister belonging to minority community with an intention to protect the sentiments of minority communities. The CM should think about the well-being of all people and not just a particular community. By making such a statement, the CM has proved he is communal,” Ravi alleged.
Internal elections
Meanwhile, the BJP leader also announced the dates of the party’s internal elections which will be held this month. Election for local committees are scheduled from June 15 to 25, Mandal committees are scheduled from June 25 to 30 and for district committees from July 1 to 10.