Chop off hands of corrupt officials: CM

DHNS

• Early this year, BSY had suggested similar punishment for church vandals

Hubli, 31 October 2010: Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has advised people to ’chop the hands’ of officials who demand bribe to extend benefits of government schemes to the entitled families.

 

The Chief Minister’s shocking remark came at a function here on Saturday where he distributed sarees to women whose girl children are covered by the government’s Bhagyalakshmi scheme.

 

The Chief Minister’s remark is an echo of his remark in January when he called for chopping the hands of those guilty of vandalising churches. Yeddyurappa is not alone in his party in suggesting a punishment akin to the Islamic penal measure for stealing. In April, BJP State president K S Eshwarappa had wanted the hands of those guilty of slaughtering cows to be “cut off”.

 

Yeddyurappa’s Saturday’s outburst may have been provoked by his predecessor, H D Kumaraswamy’s allegation that the government had received kickbacks from garment manufacturers for purchasing sarees from them.

 

The Chief Minister said some “selfish” politicians were making baseless allegations and that the government had received no commission from any quarter.

 

Ambitious projects

 

Appealing to women to ensure a bright future for their children by educating them, he said, the Government was committed to help women live a dignified life. “We have launched ambitious projects to conduct mega health camps for women and give quality education to their children. No state in the country has launched such programme so far,” he added.

 

He said a majority of women were still leading a “miserable” life. Had such programmes launched some 25 years ago, women would have been in a better position today.

 

Yeddyurappa said the Government will distribute 46,000 sarees in the district under the Bhagyalakshmi scheme. Bhagyalakshmi bonds will be distributed at the doorstep of the beneficiaries. The Government would leave no stone unturned to help women get their due. He also advised women to play an active role in the democratic process.