Bangalore, Oct 6: In the race to appease the minorities in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections next year, KPCC president G Parameshwara on Saturday suggested it’s all right for them to cheat by not repaying loans taken from government agencies. Speaking at a workshop here organized by the party on the schemes available to minorities, Parameshwara maintained that several people who had taken loan had cheated the government by not repaying. This runs into several thousand crore of rupees. The Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation instead of giving petty loans should sanction heavy amount like Rs 50 lakh loan to the beneficiaries. Don’t bother about repayment (referring to officials), never mind if they cheat (topi hakidre parvagilla) as many other categories of people in the society have duped the government agencies of several thousand crore of rupees,” he said.
Present at the workshop were Union minister for minority affairs K Rahman Khan, former MP C K Jaffer Sharief, minister Qamarul Islam R Roshan Baig and Naseer ahmed. The opposition was quick to react to Congress chief’s statement. Former chief minister and Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) supremo B S Yeddyurappa said a person in responsible position should not be making such statements. “Statements appeasing minorities is wrong. Such statements will definitely have bearing on the administration,” he said. State BJP president Prahald Joshi maintained that Congress has been duping the minorities. “Hence there is nothing surprising in this statement and Parameshwara has made the party’s intentions clear,” Joshi said. The State Congress president also vented his ire against Municipal Administration Minister Qamarul Islam for not responding to grievances of the Muslim community. “You (Islam) should work for the welfare of the community. You represent them. Otherwise, there is no use of your being in the government,” he stated. Along with attending to the department work, Islam and other ministers belonging to the community should keep in touch with the people and try to solve their problems. Visit Devarajeevanahalli in Bangalore and you will find how people are living there, he added.
He said the ministers will have to furnish details as to the number of colonies visited and number of houses they have built for minorities at the time of assessment. There will be a separate column in the questionnaire. All details will be verified and crosschecked through various sources, he added. Apparently upset with the State party chief’s statements, Islam demanded that the organizers allow him to speak and clarify on all issues. I have all the facts and figures. I will present them to the meeting. I have been doing my work sincerely,” he argued. But the organizers did not allow him to speak and instead, convinced him to wait for his turn. Parameshwara left the venue soon after he completed his speech. Islam later said there are many Anekals and Devarajeevanahallis in the State. It is not possible for him to visit every area to find out the living conditions of the poor. I can’t release funds as and when there is demand for it. Money is released on a quarterly basis. Accordingly, we release funds for welfare schemes. Without understanding the system, many keep complaining,” he stated.
Bureau Report
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