Congmen seek meeting on funds issue

BANGALORE: With no action coming forth from the Congress high command to the party's misutilization of flood relief funds in Karnataka, a section of party men in Karnataka have demanded that the office-bearers meeting be convened to discuss the issue.
KPCC president R V Deshpande, who is in the eye of the storm, allegedly for diverting funds to meet air fare and buying T-shirts for those involved in flood relief works remained incommunicado on Wednesday.According to sources, he was reportedly in New Delhi to explain things.
A major grouse against Deshpande by party workers is that he has not convened any office-bearers meeting after taking charge. This has prompted KPCC secretary H N Premkumar to dash off a letter to Deshpande asking him to convene a meeting. Premkumar has also sent a letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi seeking Deshpande's replacement.
The inquiry by former MP N Y Hanumanthappa into the entire episode, ordered by Deshpande is also said to have not convinced the rank and file. "The inquiry should have been ordered by some higher-ups and not by Deshpande against himself," sources said.
REPORT TO BE TABLED
As if to rub further salt on the Congress wounds, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said he would place a report in the ensuing legislature session on the quantum of funds collected for flood relief and spent by the government. "I will table the report on the opening day of the session which starts on June 28. Hope the Congress will follow suit," he told reporters here.
`FILE CRIMINAL CASE'
Excise minister M P Renukacharya wanted a criminal case booked against the KPCC and the office-bearers arrested for the alleged misuse of flood-relief funds. The minister didn't stop at this. He requested AICC chief Sonia Gandhi to dissolve the KPCC and create `unemployment fund' for the benefit of the local Congress leaders.