Malappuram remarks: IUML accuses SNDP leader of trying to please BJP
Kozhikode (Kerala) (PTI): Criticising SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan for his remarks on Malappuram district, the IUML on Sunday accused him of attempting to please BJP and gain national attention.
SNDP represents the numerically strong Ezhava community in Kerala.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) sought to know under what circumstances the prominent Ezhava leader made certain remarks "against" the Muslim-dominated district and asked him to explain the difficulties being faced by the other communities there.
How are the Muslims of Malappuram posing a threat to the Hindus living there, senior IUML leader M K Muneer asked while talking to a TV channel.
"There is an agenda to please the BJP. People have become too narrow-minded to think that they would get national attention if they spoke something against Malappuram," he said.
Describing Malappuram as a land of communal harmony, the leader wondered why the district has been targeted by certain people for some time now.
The IUML leader accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of launching negative propaganda against Malappuram and recalled a few recent statements of the left veteran that turned controversial.
When asked whether the party would initiate legal action against Natesan, Muneer said not just IUML but every community should stand united and check such propaganda against the district.
"It is a matter to be dealt with legally," he added.
While addressing a convention of Ezhava community members at Chungathara on Friday, Natesan said, "I think, you (community members) cannot live here speaking your independent opinion. Malappuram is a separate nation or a separate state of certain people."
He said that people of this backward community are living in constant fear in Malappuram and they could not even breathe freely here and are treated just as "voting machines".
He further said that was the reason for the continued backwardness of the Ezhava people in Malappuram.
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If asked for commission, contractors should approach Lokayukta: DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday suggested that if anyone has demanded commission from contractors to pay their bills, then they should file a complaint with Lokayukta.
His reaction comes a day after the Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) alleged that the menace of commission was now more severe than the previous BJP government.
They claimed that "unseen hands and brokers" were active in the offices of Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar and two other senior Cabinet Ministers.
Responding to these allegations, Shivakumar denied involvement of ministers and said, "If anyone has asked for commission from contractors to pay bills, they should file a complaint with the Lokayukta. Our ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Boseraju are not involved in this."
Interacting with to reporters in vidhana soudha, Deputy CM said, If contractors are asked for commission, they should file a complaint with the Lokayukta. Shivakumar questioned as to why should contractors ask the minister regarding bill payment? "Are they (contractors) not aware of the department's budget? How did they take up the contract when there is no grant?"
"During the BJP tenure, contracts worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore were awarded by my department alone. MLAs are requesting for payment of these contract bills," he said.
He stated that during the BJP government, they had warned the contractors a year in advance before the assembly elections.
"We warned them not to take up any work without funds. However, without listening to us, they are now issuing letters of request for payment of bills through political leaders," he added.
On Thursday, KSCA president R Manjunath said "brokers" were active in Shivakumar's office and he also alleged interference by one relative of Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi in the affairs concerning his department.
He further claimed that Minor Irrigation Minister NS Boseraju's son (Ravi Boseraju) "makes all the deals".
While Shivakumar asked the contractors to lodge a complaint in writing, Boseraju and Jarkiholi have denied the allegations.
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