REPRESENTATIVES PICKET CEOs OFFICE;

Madikeri July 13, 2007

Acting on the call by state Zilla Panchayath presidents and vice presidents union, ZP members yesterday picketed the CEOs office and shouted slogans.

The state association had given a call to hold protest against trimming the power of ZPs and providing more power to MLAs. The government has trimmed the powers enjoyed by Zilla Panchayaths under Panchayath Raj act.

Addressing scribes, ZP president Ashok stated that the Panchayath Raj minister C.M.Udasi has assured the association about fulfilling their demands. If the government fails to return the power, continued protests are inevitable, he said.

ZP member V.P.Shashidar said that they will hold indefinite strike if the government ignores their demands.They will not hesitate to take the extreme step of submitting resignation even, he asserted.

Vice president Neelamma and others were present.

CONGRESS TO PROTEST BEFORE VIDHANA SOUDHA;

Congress has decided to stage a protest before Vidhana Soudha if the government fails to solve the Jamma issue, according to DCC president Veena Achaiah.

Addressing press persons here, Veena Achaiah told that a state level meeting was held at Bangalore recently and a resolution was passed to hold protest under the leadership of former Chief Minister Dharam Singh, Mallikarjuna Karge and H.K.Patil. They have served an ultimatum of four days to the government to settle the issue.

Veena Achaiah ridiculed the district in charge minister Ramachandra Gowda and said that his visit to flood hit areas in the district was more like a sight seeing trip than of any help. She disclosed that not a single rupee has arrived as a rain relief to the district in spite of the statements by MLA who said rupees five crore is released. She said that rupees 1.5 crore, due for the last years rain relief is spent now and no fresh amount is released.

Veena Achaiah opined that the conflict or misunderstanding between the MLA K.G.Bopaiah and the district in charge minister is producing ill effects on the development of the district and denmanded that the district incharge should be changed. A chain of village level protests would be held pressing change, she said.

She also attacked the governments stand in scissoring power of Zilla panchayaths. Secretary V.P.Suresh, member Deergkeshi Shivanna, KPCC member T.P.ramesh was present.

FOOD INSPECTOPRS ATTACKED;

An incident of four hotel owners allegedly attacking food inspectors at Gonicoppa was reported yesterday and a case is registered.

Food inspectors from Madikeri raided four hotels at Gonicoppa and seized 12 domestical cylinders from them. In a scuffle that followed, inspectors were allegedly attacked by the hotel owners. They snatched back eight cylinders. Absence of police at the sight, even while lodging complaint at the station led to scuffle.

Tahasildar Shwetha reportedly ordered to raid the hotels as she was receiving complaints from the consumers about the shortage of cylinders. Consumers were standing in a serpentine queue since morning and the gas dealers coolly said there is insufficient stock. But the consumers found cylinders being loaded to jeeps and other vehicles. Officials checked one such mini lorry and seized receipts from them.

It was alleged that the gas cylinders are being supplied to business establishments.

The dealers have promised to supply cylinders to consumers today.