Karnataka's Public Works Minister, Satish Jarkiholi, has announced the state government's firm intention to mount a robust legal defence for Belagavi's Deputy Commissioner, Mohammad Roshan. This comes in response to a 'breach of privilege' complaint filed against the officer by a Member of Parliament from Maharashtra, Dhairyasheel Mane.
Legal Stand Against Privilege Complaint
Addressing the media in Belagavi on Thursday, Minister Jarkiholi asserted that the Deputy Commissioner's actions were completely lawful and did not constitute any breach of parliamentary privilege. He confirmed that while a complaint has been submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, no formal notice has been issued nor any committee formed as of now.
"Once a notice is served, we will fight it legally," Jarkiholi stated emphatically. He further called upon all Members of Parliament from Karnataka to raise their voices in solidarity and support of the Belagavi Deputy Commissioner during the proceedings.
Minister's Directive on Pocso Case & District Bifurcation
During the press interaction, Jarkiholi also responded to queries regarding a sensitive sexual assault case involving minor girls in the region, where allegations of police leniency towards the accused have surfaced. The minister stressed that the police must operate without any political influence. He mandated that in all cases of sexual assault on minors, sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act must be registered without fail, followed by stringent follow-up action.
Jarkiholi added that he would seek a detailed explanation from the Belagavi Police Commissioner and ensure appropriate action is taken. On the long-debated issue of bifurcating Belagavi district, the minister referred to Law Minister H.K. Patil's earlier statement. He indicated that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has noted the matter will be discussed in Bengaluru, and the final decision will rest with the Chief Minister.
Major Infrastructure Boost for Belagavi City
In a significant development for the city's infrastructure, Minister Jarkiholi revealed that the state cabinet has granted approval for a long-pending flyover project in Belagavi. The approved phase will cover a distance of over 2 kilometres, stretching from NH-48 to Dharmaveer Sambhaji Circle. Notably, this phase will not require any land acquisition.
To further alleviate traffic congestion, the minister announced an extension of the project up to the third gate. This extension is aimed at ensuring smoother vehicular movement across key areas of the city, marking a major step in urban infrastructure development for Belagavi.
