Mysuru: Hundreds of people from Mysuru and neighbouring districts aired their grievances and submitted representations to Chief Minister Siddharamaiah during the Janaspandana, a mass contact programme at the Government Guest house here on Saturday.

A group of physically challenged persons who ran petty shops complained that the Police had filed cases against them, because of which the MCC authorities are issuing threats to vacate their shops. The complainants also appealed the CM to sanction sites to them.

Siddharamaiah asked Police Commissioner Dr. A.S. Rao to ensure that a report is filed in the Court favouring Dileep Kumar and Jagadish, the accused against whom cases were booked for installing petty shops (sponsored by the Government) on footpaths near KSRTC sub-urban bus stand.

The CM also directed the Police Commissioner to depute a senior level officer to handle the case. Siddharamaiah instructed DC D. Randeep to convene a meeting of all officials concerned and help physically challenged persons to set up petty shops.

CM hands over cheque to parents of Shyadanahalli fire victim

The Chief Minister handed over Rs. 2 lakh cheque as compensation to the parents of 15-year-old boy Harshal, who succumbed to burn injuries in a fire accident at Shyadnahalli in the taluk recently. Harshal’s parents Jhansi and Murthy received the cheque. M.K. Mahadeva, 42, of Hunsur taluk who was released from jail on Jan. 26 this year after serving a 14-year imprisonment, urged the Chief Minister to grant him a loan to start a business. Siddharamaiah directed the authorities to extend a loan from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Development Corporation.

CM’s classmate, friend come with grievances

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah had some surprise guests. Sanjeevaiah his LLB classmate at Sarada Vilas Law College and Menasegowda, a friend from his native Siddharamanahundi, came calling on him with their grievances after waiting in line for hours.

The CM identified the grey-haired Sanjeevaiah and exchanged pleasantries. Sanjeevaiah sought the CM’s help for getting his four year arrears from the Home Department for his legal service.

Siddharamaiah directed the officials to immediately clear the dues.

I am no rowdy: Shopkeeper

Krishnegowda of Periyapatna taluk and a petty shop owner, was inconsolable as he requested the CM to delete his name from rowdy-sheeter list.

Stating that he was running a petty shop in his village and the Police were torturing him regularly to remove his shop, Krishnegowda claimed he was added to the rowdy-sheeter list after he manhandled a Constable in a fit of rage.

Siddharamaiah directed SP Ravi D. Channannavar to advise his sub-ordinates not to trouble Krishnegowda and to remove his name from the rowdy list.

A woman by name Mahadevamma of Harihar told the CM that her brother Manchaiah was killed in a golibar at Harihar in 1968.

But she is still to get cash compensation and grant of land as promised by the then government. She also requested for confirmation of her job in KSOU.

A resident of Siddharamaiah’s native village of Siddharamanahundi, requested the CM to give a job to his son who had completed SSLC.

But he reportedly refused the offer when the CM told that his son will be given a job at Bannariamman sugar factory. “I cannot give your son the job of a Deputy Commissioner”, the CM said.

Karnataka Rajya Kabbu Belegarara Sangha President Kurubur Shanthakumar submitted a memorandum seeking action against 15 sugar factories in the State, including Chamundeshwari and ICL in Mandya district which have failed to provide Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) to sugarcane growers. BEML Employees Association members submitted a memorandum urging the CM to intervene and prevent the PSU from being privatised. Siddharamaiah assured them that he will write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also discuss the issue in the coming Legislature session.

CM asks farmer’s caste

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah kicked up a row on Saturday when he reportedly asked the caste of a person who approached him at the Janaspandana programme.

Krishnegowda, a farmer from Doddakoppalu village in K.R. Nagar taluk, told the CM that some influential people in the village were trying to evict him from a land on which he was cultivating horticulture crops for the past four decades.

The CM, who gave a patient hearing, directed the Hunsur Assistant Commissioner to conduct an inspection and give protection to the farmer.

But when the sobbing farmer still continued to explain his problem, the CM asked for his name. He replied Krishnegowda, to which the CM asked which Gowda and the farmer replied Kuruba Gowda.

The incident took the people’s representatives and the officials aback for a moment, it is learnt.