Krishna Palemar challenges Nanaiah

Krishna Palemar challenges Nanaiah

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, July 3: Speaking up for the first time, ever since the Belekeri port controversy erupted, ports and environment minister Krishna J. Palemar has clarified that he had good reason to write to the state’s chief secretary seeking Karwar DCF Gokul’s suspension.

Interjecting during Congress MLC K.C. Kondaiah’s speech, in the Legislative Council on Friday, where he insisted the government order a CBI probe into illegal transportation and export of iron ore, Mr Palemar said that he wanted to clear his name, by giving a clarification on the floor of the House.

“Everybody is under the impression that I am responsible for Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde’s resignation. I went to the Belekeri port on June 8, and enquired of the port officer, Mahesh Biliye, about the 5 lakh MT of disappeared ore. When he said that he let off the trucks after seeing the indemnity bonds and court order permitting them to export the ore, I immediately suspended him. Since I wanted further information, I asked for Karwar DCF Gokul. But he wasn’t ready to come. What do you expect me to do when I have been insulted so badly? I didn’t write the letter to the Chief Secretary seeking Gokul’s suspension to defame the Lokayukta. It was because the officer’s disrespect to me was intolerable,” Mr Palemar said.

Also attacking JD (S) MLC M.C. Nanaiah, Mr Palemar said that these allegations were baseless.

Krishna Palemar challenges Nanaiah
The Minister for Ports and Inland Water Transport J. Krishna Palemar said that he would resign his post as a Minister if M.C. Nanaiah of the Janata Dal (Secular) proved the allegations levelled against him in the Legislative Council on Thursday.

Intervening in the resumed discussion under rule 68 in the Council on Friday on the issue of Lokayukta’s resignation and the “disappearance” of five lakh tonnes of iron ore of the seven lakh tonnes impounded by the officials concerned at the Belekeri port, Mr. Palemar said Mr. Nanaiah should take “political sanyas” if he failed to prove his allegations.

Defending his letter to the Government seeking disciplinary measures against the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Karwar) R. Gokul, Mr. Palemar said that after his visit to the Belekeri port he called on Mr. Gokul to meet him at his office in the port. But he refused to comply with his request.

He was forced to draw the attention of those concerned in the Government as the official had exhibited “scant respect” to the “people’s representative.” He did not hold any meeting at any hotel with a group of vested interests as Mr. Nanaiah alleged, Mr. Palemar said.

Mr. Nanaiah on Thursday alleged that Mr. Palemar had called Mr. Gokul to meet him at a hotel where he was holding a meeting with 11 persons allegedly involved in the illegal transport of ore. As an official known for his integrity, Mr. Gokul refused to participate in the meeting, he said.

Mr. Nanaiah expressed his doubts over the integrity of Special Officer Belagavi in this context as the Lokayukta raided the residence of Mr. Belagavi in Bangalore and seized Rs. 4 lakh in 2002.

Following this, Mr. Palemar had written to the Lokayukta claiming that he had handed over the money to Mr. Belagavi saying that the money be returned to him.

Mr. Palemar said that he knew Mr. Belagavi for several years and was convinced of his honesty.