Police called to throw out whistle-blower Sarita in Kodagu ZP
In a shocking development, whistle blower Sarita Poonacha, who has been exposing the corruption in the BJP-ruled Kodagu Zilla Panchayat, was forced to leave the meeting hall when she tried to level corruption charges against the controversial Speaker K.G. Bopaiah in Madikeri on Thursday.
In an act which amounts to boorish and undemocratic behaviour, the ZP President Ravi Kushalappa summed the police to remove Congress member Sarita from the meeting hall, but the lady walked out before the police could physically remove her.
The trouble was sparked off after Sarita questioned the “special interest” Bopaiah was taking in entrusting work to government-owned Nirmiti Kendra for building canals and ponds.
This led to pandemonium with the BJP members demanding Sarita to apologise to Bopaiah.
Sarita thundered: “I did not make any false allegation. Member Raja Rao, ZP President Ravi Kushalappa and Speaker Bopaiah did have a role to play in Nirmiti Kendra getting the said two projects. I can produce documents to prove the same. It is clear that misappropriation of Rs 1.20 crore has taken place. Should I apologise for exposing the misuse of funds.”
Standing her ground, Sarita alleged some members, including the ZP President himself, were involved in the illegal purchase of materials and alleged corruption in the purchase of furniture and fixtures to Zilla Panchayath meeting hall.
As the skeletons in the BJP cupboard started tumbling, the ZP President summoned the police to remove Sarita.
EDITOR’S VIEW: The act of summoning the police to remove an opposition party member making serious corruption charges against the ruling BJP administration amounts to bulldozing the opposition by the ruling party.
This also exposes the weakness of the Congress in Kodagu, whose members failed to go to the rescue of Sarita who has been consistently exposing the corrupt deals involving the BJP.
Instead of trying to suppress dissent through his storm-troopers, Speaker Bopaiah should introspect on his poor performance and neglect of Kodagu. Bopaiah should answer why the roads in his Virajpet constituency have become such a nightmare for vehicle owners.
