Pics: Heated argument took place between Union minister of state for railways V Somanna and Koppal district minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, Koppal MP Rajashekhar Hitnal and Koppal MLA Raghavendra Hitnal; Chairs thrown by Congress workers during Railway programme in Hitnal villageKoppal: High drama unfolded on Monday at Hitnal village in the taluk during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a railway overpass. A verbal altercation occurred between district minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, MLA Raghavendra Hitnal, and Union minister of state for railways V Somanna. Congress workers expressed their displeasure before Somanna, alleging a breach of protocol at the event. They were upset that the names of local MP, MLA, and the district minister’s names were not included in the invitation. Tangadagi said that the state govt pays taxes to the Union government and should not be disrespected. During the event, BJP and Congress workers and leaders engaged in a verbal spat, with deputy commissioner Suresh Itnal intervening to prevent further arguments.Tangadagi, Hitnal, and other Congress workers were miffed. Congressmen expressed their anger by throwing chairs at the minister. Before the event, Tangadagi, MP Rajshekhar Hitnal, and MLA Raghavendra Hitnal arrived, followed by minister Somanna, who performed the ground-breaking ceremony. Tangadagi objected to the absence of Congress representatives’ names on banners on the stage, leading to Congress workers chanting slogans and throwing chairs. Somanna was protected by security personnel. The protesters then sat in front of his car, stopping the event from proceeding.Hitnal village is the hometown of MP Rajshekhar Hitnal and MLA Raghavendra Hitnal, and the absence of their names on banners and the stage at the govt event in their village further fueled the workers’ anger. Despite the leaders’ names being on the foundation stone, Congress leaders did not approach the stage as their names were absent on the stage. Minister Somanna concluded the event in just 10 minutes and left the venue, stating that there was no intentional mistake regarding the protocol breach allegations. When minister Tangadagi first commented on this matter, I felt uneasy. However, all representatives’ names are on the foundation stone,” said Somanna.When asked about the absence of names on stage banners, he said, “At the central level, only Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name is used”. The overpass is being constructed on the Hitnal-Munirabad-Ginigera route, replacing LC No 77, at a cost of approximately Rs 27 crore, Somanna stated.Tangadagi said BJP’s autocracy won’t be tolerated in Koppal. “BJP members are behaving like Saddam Hussein. Our names are not on the stage. All elected representatives should be respected. When respect is not given, our workers will not sit quietly. Somanna calling our group a ‘gang’ is not right. Such a statement was not expected of him. The people of Koppal will not tolerate this,” he stated.
