The State government’s Janata Darshan organised at Arasikere on Monday, witnessed a verbal spat between two MLAs, in the presence of Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna and senior officers of the district. Arasikere MLA K.M. Shivalinge Gowda and Belur H.K. Suresh had a heated argument over a liquor shop sanctioned to Karagunda village of Javagal hobli.
Congress MLA Shivalinge Gowda, who was presiding over the event, alleged in his address that the Centre did not come to the rescue of coconut growers, who had been facing difficulty due to the fall in the price of copra in the market.
BJP MLA Suresh, reacting to the allegation, said that the State Government should release a ₹5,000 support price for copra. Mr. Shivalinge Gowda, stood up again to respond to Suresh. The discussion turned to the liquor shop sanctioned for Kurangunda village. Suresh alleged that the shop was sanctioned despite the opposition from women in the village.
Shivalinge Gowda maintained that it was sanctioned during the BJP rule, and the Congress had not sanctioned even one in the last five months. Suresh reacted, stating that the shop was being run by Shivalinge Gowda’s son. Both entered into a heated argument, prompting the senior officers to intervene.
Shivalinge Gowda alleged that Suresh was disturbing the programme that he organised by bringing people from his constituency. Suresh said he too had rights in the taluk as he represented Javagal hobli of the taluk.
Minister K.N. Rajanna, Deputy Commissioner C. Sathyabhama, Superintendent of Police Mohammed Sujeetha, and others were present at the programme.
