In an effort to counter the state-wide campaign of BJP leaders against policies of the UPA government, the state unit of Congress plans to organize a series of rallies to press for details of funds released by the Union government to Karnataka.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, sources in the pradesh Congress committee said leaders of the state unit were planning to launch protests - Namage Lekka Kodi (Give us the accounts) - in the last week of this month.
"The BJP leaders have criticised Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, for her comments during her recent visit to Mangalore. She stated that the UPA government had released nearly Rs. 80,000 crores in the last eight years but, the state BJP leaders have objected to it. Therefore, it is imperative for us to ask detailed accounts from them," the sources explained.
The sources said Chief Minister, Jagadish Shettar, would certainly find it tough to provide details of accounts of funds released by the Union government. Most important, he would find it difficult to explain how Rs 600 crores released for MNREGS scheme was spent during his tenure as minister for rural development and panchayat raj in the previous ministry.
"The Union government had asked the state government to furnish details of accounts on the MNREGS expenditure. But, the state had failed to provide details to the central government. This apart, funds were released for schemes such as Jawaharlal Nehru urban renewal scheme, national rural health scheme by the Union government,” the sources added.
The sources revealed that the pradesh Congress committee would issue detailed notices to all its district and taluk units ahead of the state-wide agitation.
"The nature of agitation will be dawn to dusk sit-in protests in front of offices of deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners. The leaders will demand detailed accounts from the state, and important leaders will meet these officers and submit memorandum," the sources added.
The sources said a detailed programme list would be dispatched to all district units by the end of this week.