Mangalore: Minister H K Patil must apologise or quit - Poojary

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Jul 11: "The state rural development and Panchayat Raj minister, H K Patil has to ask for forgiveness or resign from his post as minister for criticizing the Anna Bhagya scheme," said Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary, addressing a press meet here on Thursday, July 11.

A day prior to the launch of the ambitious rice at Re 1 per kg scheme, Patil had said instead of providing cheap rice, the government should have focused on providing drinking water and sanitation facilities in rural areas. However, he later retracted and said that the scheme would help the poor.

Lambasting Patil over his statement, Poojary said, "It is not right on the part of Patil to oppose and criticize the rice scheme. This clearly shows that Patil has no concern towards the poor."

"Patil has clearly violated the code of discipline making such a statement. He has to ask for forgiveness, or resign from his post. All others, including a few opposition leaders have praised the scheme. Our duty is work for the poor. People have trusted the Congress manifesto and voted us. It is not right to cheat the people in any way," he said.

"Opposition and BJP will quote Patil when the Food Security Bill is going to be passed in the session. Earlier in 2005, we had waived a debt of nearly Rs 48,00,000 in favor of the poor. The government had given nearly 300 acres of land for a company, but no update on this has been received yet."

"There is a need to work together for the welfare of the people, especially the poor. A people friendly government has to be formed," he said.

Kallige Tharanath Shetty, Harikrishna Bantwal, Suresh Ballal and Arun Coelho were present.

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