Akhilesh stresses interlinking of rivers to end water woes

Highlighting the issue of water shortage for drinking and irrigation needs across the county, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said that it was imperative that the Centre persist with the plan of interlinking of rivers.

In what was portrayed as a show of strength by the sole Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA in Karnataka, C P Yogeeshwara, the massive rally held in Channapatna saw Yadav seeking urgent water management reforms across the nation. He suggested that the country needs to have a comprehensive water policy to facilitate interlinking of rivers.

 “The socialist leader, Ram Manohar Lohia, had envisaged a policy of interlinking the rivers. However, successive governments have failed to make this a reality,” the SP leader said.

He said that if the Samajawadi Party makes it to the next government at the Centre, it will push for interlinking of rivers. “No matter the cost or the number of rivers to be interlinked, SP will take the initiative,” he said.

Attacking the Centre, Yadav said the UPA government was solely responsible for the growth slowdown and increase in poverty.

“The next prime minister, no matter which party he or she comes form, needs to work for the uplift of the poor and the farmers,” Yadav said.

Third Front

Major political parties, those opposed to the Congress and BJP, are planning to form a third front.

“The SP will be taking the lead in forming the secular third front. If required, we are ready to approach like-minded parties such as the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal for forming the third front,” he said.

Lamenting that he could not make the best use of his previous stay in Karnataka, Yadav said: “Having studied engineering in Mysore, I rue the fact that I was not able to learn Kannada. I was so focused on completing my course that I did not try to learn the language. Perhaps, if I had learnt Kannada, the Samajawadi Party could have made a serious effort in forming a government in the State,” Yadav quipped.

Serious attempt

He  said that the party will make a serious attempt at winning as many seats as possible in the state during the Lok Sabha elections, under the leadership of Channapatna
MLA, C P Yogeeshwara.

The Samajawadi Party rally at the Junior College grounds saw a huge turnout, with people from across Ramanagara district turning up. There was a separate arena providing refreshments for all those who attended the rally.