Raichur: Congress MLAs voiced their dissatisfaction with district in-charge minister Sharan Prakash Patil during a Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting at the Zilla Panchayat office hall on Friday.R Basanagouda Thuruvihal, president of the State Khadi and Village Industries Board, claimed that despite having two ministers in the district, development projects were stagnant. He said officials were disrespecting MLAs by not inviting them to meetings, illegal activities were rampant and police misconduct had escalated. He said despite being the district minister, Patil merely conducted meetings and did nothing further.The allegations made by MLA Thuruvihal were backed by MLCs Basanagouda Badarli, A Vasant Kumar and Sharanagouda Patil Bayyapur.In contrast, Basanagouda Daddal, president of the Karnataka Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, stood up for the in-charge minister. When Daddal questioned, “If you only discuss your constituency, when will I have the chance to address ours?” MLC Badarli engaged in a heated exchange in response.Karemma Nayak, the JD(S) MLA from Devdurg, said, “Even after bringing the issue to the assembly, the challenges facing my constituency remain unresolved. Hence, I will not occupy my seat until these issues are addressed,” and proceeded to conduct a sit-in on the ground.She claimed that the govt was failing to allocate funds for the development of the Devdurg constituency. Following the suspension of 33 PDOs, only 6 remained. No new PDOs were appointed, nor were alternative solutions offered.She alleged that two toll plazas were being built within a 40km radius, and a toll was being collected. However, activists who raised concerns about the govt’s lack of action faced complaints. She further accused that police oppression had intensified and that despite numerous media reports, no investigations were conducted.“Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari has stated that there should not be two tolls within a 60km distance. Nevertheless, there are two tolls located just 40km apart in Devdurg. Therefore, these toll plazas must be dismantled immediately,” Nayak asserted, causing a moment of confusion in the meeting.In response to her request, the district in-charge minister directed deputy commissioner Nitish K to take measures to temporarily halt toll collection until a meeting could be convened with the PWD minister. With this commitment, Nayak concluded her protest.
