Will look into 'cut' in development grants to constituencies of opposition MLAs: CM Yediyurappa
Bengaluru, Oct 12: Opposition parties locked horns with the ruling BJP in the assembly over the 'cut' in development grants to their constituencies, prompting Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday to assure them that he would personally look into it and sort it out.
Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah raised the issue during a debate on the demand for grants, following which several Congress and JD(S) legislators expressed concern over the 'cut' in allocations to their constituencies.
"It is not my allegation that there is a drastic cut in grants to constituencies represented opposition MLAs," Siddaramaiah said, pointing at the legislators.
"I'm not saying allocation should be equal to MLAs of all parties. Every government in the past has used its discretion to allocate more to constituencies represented by their party MLAs. It is quite natural, but discrimination should not be obvious," he said.
Several Congress MLAs,including former minister Ramalinga Reddy alleged that there was 'discrimination' in allocation of grants to their constituencies and what was given by the previous coalition government had been taken back.
To this, BJP MLA Satish Reddy retorted that the government was simply 'undoing' the disparity in allocation by previous administrations.
This led to a heated exchange of words between legislators of both Congress and BJP.
Intervening, JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said that as Chief Minister, he had tried to be as fair as possible while allocating funds to MLAs, irrespective of their party line.
"But I didn't have full freedom," he said, hinting at coalition compulsions.
He advised the Chief Minister to call a meeting of Bengaluru MLAs and sort out the issue.
"It is as simple as that. CM too has expressed his intention to sort it out," he added.
Taking note of only the "disparity" related to Bengaluru MLAs getting the focus,opposition MLAs from many rural constituencies state too tried to raise their voice.
Yediyurappa then assured the legislators that he would personally look into the allocations and sort it out.
"I will review this and resolve the disparity, trust me," he added.
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UP: Fake IAS officer marries woman, flees with Rs 15 lakh dowry
Gorakhpur (UP) (PTI): A newly married man fled with the Rs 15 lakh given to him as dowry by the bride's family, and it came to light later that he was an alleged serial scammer, police said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Pritam Kumar Nishad from Etawah, allegedly posed as an IAS officer to deceive the woman into marrying him. He is currently absconding with his sister, and a case has been filed against him for cheating, dowry harassment, and forgery, officials said.
According to the police, the woman's family claimed that they spent nearly Rs 30 lakh for the wedding that was solemnised on March 11.
The match was arranged through a matrimonial group, where the accused introduced himself as an IAS officer, sharing purported interview clips, office visuals, and photographs with politicians to gain the family's trust.
Despite initially claiming he would marry without dowry, the accused allegedly demanded Rs 15 lakh shortly before the engagement. The bride's family paid Rs 10 lakh in cash during the engagement and the remaining Rs 5 lakh on the wedding day, the police said.
The fraud came to light on Saturday after the woman reached Etawah, and a wedding attendee informed the family that the accused was not a civil servant. When her relatives visited the address provided by him, they found her in a small rented room, while the accused and his sister had fled, the police added.
The woman has also alleged that the accused planned to take her to Goa and sell her, and accused him of inappropriate behaviour.
The police suspect that the accused may have been involved in multiple such marriages in the past. Based on a complaint lodged at the cantonment police station, an FIR was registered on Saturday evening.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Kaustubh said efforts are underway to arrest the accused.
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