Liquor, money flow: BSY calls for debate

KOPPAL: Touched to the quick by the allegations of the flow of money, liquor and misuse of official machinery in the build-up to the Koppal bypoll by the Congress and JD(S) against the state government, former CM B S Yeddyurappa invited them for an open debate on the issues. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the poll campaign here on Wednesday, Yeddyurappa averred that the BJP was prepared to leave the poll campaign to candidates and voters of the constituency and sought to know whether Congress and JD(S) was ready to follow suit. While JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy played safe by not reacting to Yeddyurappa’s comment, KPCC working president D K Shivakumar evaded a direct reply and maintained that he was not authorised to speak on it. He said that the comment showed that the BJP was apprehensive of losing the bypoll.“BJP leaders are setting the dangerous trend of purchasing voter identity cards of minorities, SC and ST communities,” said Congress leader D K Shivakumar. Conceding that the Congress in the past did not giving due priority to these three communities, he remarked that the Congress would not repeat its mistake. “Hence, the minorities, SCs and STs must consolidate and vote for the Congress instead of the JD(S),” he appealed. He exhorted Election Commission and district administration officials to take serious note of Minister Vishveswar Hegde Kageri holding meetings with government teachers in the constituency, while urging that cases be booked against him.Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa told reporters here that the Munirabad-Mehaboob Nagar rail line, the foundation stone for which was laid in 1975, would be completed in another three-four years.State Chief Electoral Officer C S Suranjan will review preparations for September-26 Koppal by-poll at DC office and hold a meeting with representatives of all political parties, here on Thursday, stated official sources.