JOIN USJD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal to issue an interim order to help bring temporary reprieve to farmers in North Karnataka.
Addressing reporters here on Thursday, Kumaraswamy said that as in the case of Cauvery, where an interim order was issued, Modi should take cognisance of it and come to the rescue of Karnataka farmers.
He challenged the BJP State leaders to an open debate on whether or not he, as the then chief minister, had neglected the Kalasa-Banduri project. Taking a swipe at Pralhad Joshi and Jagadish Shettar for stating that he was politicising the Madayi issue and instigating farmers, he said the BJP leaders should stop taking “cheap shots” at him.
Reacting to Joshi’s statement that he as a chief minister had failed to participate in the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the project, Kumaraswamy said he was absent because of prior commitments. “But at no point during the Cabinet meeting then, did I speak about the project in a lighter vein. It was the BJP leaders who said they wanted the project to be implemented as they were bothered only about publicity. I am in the process of corroborating the proceedings of the Cabinet meeting, following which I will expose the BJP.”
He said he had okayed the sanctioning of Rs 100 crore for the project, but B S Yeddyurappa, who was the finance minister then, had failed to release the funds. Hence the onus was on the BJP, and not the JD(S).
He said he would hold a meeting of his party MLAs and district-level leaders on August 31 to chalk out measures to intensify the farmers’ movement on the Mahadayi issue.
DH News Service