CM Bommai removes R Ashoka as minister in-charge of Mandya
Bengaluru, Feb 10: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said he is "freeing" state Revenue Minister R Ashoka as the Mandya district in-charge minister.
The announcement came barely a fortnight after he was made in-charge of Mandya district.
Bommai said the decision was taken on Ashoka's request as he had many other responsibilities to take care of.
"Ashoka had requested me to free him from the Mandya district in-charge responsibility. Heeding to his request, I will issue an order freeing him from the responsibility of Mandya district in charge minister," the Chief Minister told reporters.
According to Bommai, the Revenue Minister himself volunteered to give up the additional responsibility. "There is one change in the district in-charge minister. Ashoka had written a letter to me," Bommai said.
The Chief Minister explained that Ashoka was instrumental behind issuing over 50,000 'Hakku Patra' (ownership deed) to those dwelling in Lamani Thandas. A similar drive will be carried out in Davangere Lamani Thanda.
Also, there will be Hakku Patra distribution to 10,000 people in and around Bengaluru, he added.
Ashoka will have to oversee the programme of deputy commissioners of the districts visiting villages. He also heads the Kempegowda and Basaveshwara statue committee, Bommai said.
"Since he has to give time and do justice to all the works he has taken up, he had requested me to free him from the Mandya district in-charge responsibility," the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister had appointed Ashoka as the in-charge of Mandya district replacing Excise Minister K Gopalaiah.
A day later, many posters with messages 'Ashoka go back', and 'Boycott Ashoka' dotted prime locations of Mandya. Speculations are that leaders and workers of his own party in Mandya had opposed his appointment as the district in-charge minister and put out the posters.
The development came at a crucial juncture when the assembly elections are less than three months away and winning Mandya district, which is considered to be a Janata Dal (Secular) bastion, is important for the ruling BJP.
Neither Ashoka nor Gopalaiah were available for comments.
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Drug peddler's property worth Rs 1 crore attached in Srinagar
Srinagar (PTI): Property worth Rs 1 crore belonging to a notorious drug peddler was on Saturday attached in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, police said.
A double-storey house on eight marlas of land situated at Wantpora Eidgah, belonging to Basit Bilal Dar, a notorious drug peddler, valued at approximately Rs 1 crore, a police spokesperson said.
He said Dar is involved in two cases registered under various sections of the NDPS Act.
During investigation, it was established that the accused had acquired the said property through illicit proceeds generated from drug trafficking activities, the spokesperson said.
Consequently, the property was attached under the provisions of the NDPS Act. The attachment proceedings were conducted in the presence of the two independent witnesses, strictly in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures, he said.
As per the attachment order, the owner has been restrained from selling, leasing, transferring, altering, or creating any third-party interest in the property till further orders, the spokesperson added.
