Vijayapura: Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol, cautiously commenting on the issue of the inclusion of the Lingayats under the OBC category, said that the government has not yet taken a decision on the matter and it is currently in consultation with the legal experts.
Speaking to the media ahead of participating in the BJP’s ‘Gram Swaraj’ convention on Monday, Karjol said that the party will consider all the legal and Constitutional aspects before deciding on bringing the Lingayat community under the OBC category as it believes in working in a federal system.
Regarding the peding airport work in Vijayapura, the DCM asserted that the work will begin in December now that the tender process has been completed. However, final approval is required from the Cabinet before starting the work, he added.
Karjol also refuted allegations that the tender process was cancelled in the past causing a delay in the work. The work was delayed as the project required clearance from the Infrastructure Development Ministry, he said.
“Even though the PWD is executing the project, the clearance is required from the infrastructure department,” Karjol asserted, assuring that the airport will be ready for use within a year of the start of the project.
Commenting on the Cabinet expansion, Karjol said that the final decision will be taken by the party high command and that the media needs to wait for a while longer. He also refuted reports that the party national leaders deliberately avoided meeting Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa regarding the matter, saying that the top-leaders including Amit Shah are on tour.
Like other leaders, Karjol also rubbished rumours that the party is planning to replace Yediyurappa as CM.
Meanwhile, the DCM informed that the BJP has been holding events across Karnataka to educate the people about the government’s welfare schemes.
MP Ramesh Jigajinagi, MLA Somanagouda Patil Sasnur, District President R. S. Patil Kochabal, and other party leaders including Ashwanth Narayan, Chandrashekhar Kavatagi, Vijugouda Patil etc. were present.
