Foreign jaunts of Karnataka ministers to be checked

MYSORE: KPCC chief Janaradhan Poojari on Thursday said he has asked Chief Minister S M Krishna to bar ministers and partymen from going on foreign jaunts. He also suggested that those who go on foreign trips should be denied ticket in the next Assembly elections.
Talking to reporters he said, despite his warning to the ministers against foreign jaunts, many ministers approached the chief minister seeking permission to go on foreign trips."I have directed the chief minister not to approve any such trip," he said, adding that he has taken a serious view of some ministers, who have gone on a foreign tour violating his direction.
Referring to reported failure of ministers to visit the district to review the drought situation, Poojari said it has come to his notice that a couple of ministers are not bothered to visit the drought prone areas. "I have asked the chief minister to mend the ministers, who are not visiting the districts," he claimed. He added that even then the ministers who failed to abide by Krishna’s direction, will be seriously dealt.
He said that the election is the only time, when KPCC and party can deal with such errant ministers and legislators. "Denial of ticket is a big punishment and that will be implemented seriously in the next elections," he said. Though he refused to give the number of probable ministers and legislators, who are on the hit list.
He refused to give a direct reply, when a reporter asked whether there is any plan to make a major change in the MLAs list in the next assembly elections by denying tickets to sitting legislators .
In reply to a question, Poojari said the persons, who have completed two years term as chairman of various boards and corporations, will be changed and fresh appointments will be done to these posts. "In the new appointments more representation will be given to the people belonging to backward caste, communities and minorities," he added.
Asked about the byelection to Hungund and Vemagal seats, Poojari said both the seats will be won by Congress, that too with a thumping majority. "Though the results of these seats will not indicate the mood of the people to large extent, they will forecast the things to come for the parties in the state," he said.
Poojari also dubbed the allegation of opposition parties on farmers deaths as "politically motivated." He said that his party is concerned that not even single farmer should die due to debts . "Every life is precious to us and there is no need to read between the lines of Chief minister''s statement, that not so many deaths are due to debts," he added.
He said the party parliament members will grill the NDA government in the next winter session on the issue of farmers deaths. "It is the responsibility of NDA government to come to the rescue of the state governments and waive of the farmers loans borrowed from commercial and cooperative banks," he said.
He rejected the claim of opposition parties in the state that recent package announced by Krishna government is not of real relief to the farming community as it is a "book adjustment relief."