A heated argument ensued between the activists of the Janata Dal (Secular), who was staging a protest under the leadership of the former MLA A.T. Ramaswamy demanding improvement of roads in Arkalgud taluk, and H.C. Mahadevappa, Minister for Public Works, on Saturday. While the Minister maintained that the work on road improvement had already begun, the protesters persisted with their contention that the former was misleading public.
Mr. Ramaswamy and his followers took out a motorcycle rally from Konanur in Arkalgud taluk to Hassan, where they staged a dharna. The protesters, who were carrying Kannada flags on their vehicles, carried photographs of roads of different localities of the taluk, which were in a poor condition, to highlight the issue. They raised slogans against the State government and the district administration for not paying due attention to improve road connectivity in the taluk.
Mr. Ramaswamy told presspersons that in spite of repeated protests, the elected representatives were not paying due attention to the problem. Mr. Mahadevappa was also aware of the problem. “During the Lok Sabha elections, the Minister had said that the stretch between Gorur and Ramanathapura would soon be upgraded . However, the work has not yet begun.
No agreement signedThe officials keep misleading people on the progress achieved. So far, the department has not entered into an agreement with any contractor for the work,” he claimed.
Dr. Mahadevappa, after participating in the Rajyotsava function, met the protesters and tried to convince them by stating that the department had provided Rs. 24.5 crore for roads in Arkalgud taluk.
There was no need of a protest. The protesters argued that the Minister was lying and no agreement had been entered into with any contractor to take up the work. Tension prevailed for a few minutes on the premises of the Deputy Commissioner’s office as the protesters were not ready to listen to the Minister.
Deputy Commissioner V. Anbukkumar, Superintendent of Police Ravi D. Channannavar and others tried to convince Mr. Ramaswamy to withdraw the protest. However, he did not relent.
Later, the Minister told presspersons that his department had sanctioned schemes worth Rs. 24.5 crore in Arkalgud taluk. There was no need to protest. A few works were in progress and some were still in tender allotment stage. “So far, work worth Rs. 61 lakh has been completed,” he said.
