Like a rock: Siddaramaiah shows unity with D K Shivakumar in Mysuru amid CM switch buzz

'Our government will stand strong like a rock for a full-term of five years,' the CM said.

Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah exhibited unity with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar before the media at Mysuru Airport on Monday, by holding his hand and raising it.

Speaking to media persons in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah, who is on his way to offer bagina to the River Cauvery at KRS Dam as the dam has reached the brim, said, “Shivakumar and I are doing well. Our government will stand strong like a rock for a full term of five years (‘rock’ being a nickname for Shivakumar, as he is a native of Kanakapura, which is famous for stone quarries). Attempts are being made to create a rift between us, but that won’t happen. We are united.”

Reacting to former minister and BJP leader B Sriramulu’s statement that midterm elections will be held for the Karnataka Assembly before Dasara (September–October), Siddaramaiah asked, “How many elections has Sriramulu, who talks about us, lost? The BJP leaders are adept at lying.”

Siddaramaiah said, “I will certainly inaugurate Mysuru Dasara celebrations. Do not misinterpret the visit of AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala to Bengaluru. He is the Congress in-charge for Karnataka state. He listens to the difficulties and achievements of Congress MLAs and gives them advice on party organisation and strengthening. That’s his job. There is nothing special about it.”

Regarding an increase in the deaths due to heart attacks in Hassan district, Siddaramaiah said, “I will investigate this matter. I will get information from experts about the causes for an increase in heart attacks and take appropriate measures to control it.”

On the declaration of a two-language policy in education in Maharashtra to avoid imposition of Hindi as a third language, Siddaramaiah said, “We are always in favour of bilingual education. We have always advocated for it. Even now, we are committed to education in two languages.”

In reply to a question, Shivakumar, also Water Resources Minister, said, “In June, we were supposed to release nine TMCft of water from the Cauvery River to Tamil Nadu. But already, 22 TMCft of water has been released (in June) to TN. We have no objection to releasing the mandated 177.25 TMCft of water to TN. In fact, we have been giving more water to Tamil Nadu during many years. Our only contention is that we should share distress too, during drought or deficit rains.”

Replying to a question, Shivakumar said, “The Central government should give permission for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project. We have already opened the Mekedatu project office and the process of land acquisition is underway.”

To a pointed question that Tamil Nadu has increased its area under irrigation by over 14 per cent, Shivakumar said, “In Mandya, the Cauvery River basin agricultural land has been increased by 6 per cent over the past few years.”