• ‘Food and Civil Supplies Department must detect LPG hoarding first’
• 48 cylinders seized in Mysuru district: Food Joint Director

Mysore/Mysuru: State Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar said, the Police Department cannot take suo motu action against the alleged black marketing of LPG cylinders and can conduct raids only when the Food and Civil Supplies Department provides specific information about such activities.

Speaking to press persons at the Government Guest House in Nazarbad here this morning, Dr. Parameshwar, who is on a private visit to the city, said, it is the responsibility of the Food and Civil Supplies Department to detect cases of black marketing and hoarding of LPG cylinders and report them to the Police.

“The Police can take action only after receiving specific complaints or information from the concerned Department,” he said.

Replying to a question on steps being taken to control the prices of LPG cylinders and other essential commodities, with some traders allegedly increasing prices citing the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Home Minister said, it is primarily the responsibility of the Union  Government to control price  rise and inflation.

Dr. Parameshwar reiterated that the State Government has certain limitations in the matter and that the Police cannot register cases against black marketeers or hoarders on their own.

He urged officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department to immediately inform the Police if they come across cases of black marketing or hoarding of LPG cylinders or other commodities. He asserted that the State Government is doing everything possible within its limits to ensure an uninterrupted supply of domestic LPG.

Meeting with district officials

The Home Minister met senior officers of Mysuru, including Deputy Commissioner (DC) G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Inspector General of Police (IGP)-Southern Range Dr. M.B. Boralingaiah, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, Superintendent of Police (SP) Mallikarjun Baladandi, DCP (Law and Order) Dr. Harsha Priyamvada, DCP (Crime and Traffic) K.S. Sundar Raj, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif and   Zilla Panchayat (ZP) CEO S. Ukesh Kumar.

Dr. Parameshwar reportedly discussed the general law and order situation in Mysuru and other pressing issues.

Wait for High Command decision

Commenting on speculation over a leadership change in the State Congress Government, Dr. Parameshwar said, any such decision would be taken only by the Congress High Command.

He maintained that the High Command is the sole authority to decide on the leadership issue and added that Siddaramaiah is currently the Chief Minister and may continue for the next two years as well.

Recalling that the Congress High Command had not declared Siddaramaiah as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the full term ahead of the 2013 Assembly elections, he noted that Siddaramaiah nevertheless completed the entire five-year term.

“A similar situation may arise this time too,” he said, indicating that Siddaramaiah could complete the full five-year term, three years of which have already passed.

Dr. Parameshwar also said that the High Command has not given any confusing signals regarding leadership change and that, in such a situation, it would be inappropriate for leaders to speculate on the matter.