Mangaluru: Claiming that the state intelligence department was filled with officials who were in favour of the Sangh Parivar, Minister for Forest and Environment B Ramanath Rai has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to identify such officials in the department and replace them on the grounds that they did not work in favour of maintaining law and order situation.

According to highly-placed sources in the Congress party, the minister opined that such officials did not submit intelligence reports that worked in favour of the law and order situation and gave false information especially in the context of Dakshina Kannada district.

Resignation threat

A local media report claimed that Mr Rai has also threatened to resign from the post of the minister over Sangh Parivar’s influence on intelligence department.

He also has expressed dissatisfaction at the direct involvement of state party leaders in the party affairs in Dakshina Kannada district, report said.

Stating that the failure and non-cooperation of the intelligence department was the reason for the recent communal clashes in the district, Mr Rai has been appealing to the chief minister to reconstitute the intelligence department since it was not possible to control law and order at the last instant if the intelligence officials submitted reports favouring the Sangh Parivar. It is said that the minister was not happy with the lack of response in this regard.

The intelligence department officials are aware of the imminent threats and where clashes and riots are going to occur. However, they are misguiding the government by providing false information. By this, the people affected by the clashes are disappointed with the government, which could weaken the future prospects of the Congress party, say sources close to Mr Rai. It is said that Mr Rai had already brought this to the notice of the chief minister two weeks ago.

Sources have said that the district in-charge minister Rai has also expressed displeasure over the political developments in Puttur constituency in the district, primely over the constituency MLA Shakunthala Shetty having taken suggestions from party chief G Parameshwar while nominating office bearers in local bodies instead of having asked him. The minister is of the opinion that the activities of the MLA went against the interest of the party.

(CD Network)