Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has decided to take up five major problems haunting the state during the meeting of an all-party delegation led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday evening.
Though the preliminary all-party meeting on Sunday deliberated mostly on the Mahadayi river diversion issue with the government saying it wants to divert 7.5 tmc ft of water for Kalasa-Banduri drinking water project, the government will be bringing up four other major issues with the PM.
Speaking to reporters after the all-party meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government will submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister saying it requires Central assistance on five issues. While Mahadayi is the major issue, the government will also seek the Centre’s assistance in solving the drought in the state, the problems of sugarcane growers, grapes and pomegranate growers and the problems faced by the sericulture sector.
“We will seek the Prime Minister’s intervention in Mahadayi diversion project and request him to talk to the Goa Chief Minister to convince the Goa government not to obstruct the drinking water project,” he told reporters.
“All parties in the state are united on this issue, no one should indulge in politicking. We will all convince the Prime Minister tomorrow,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.
Earlier in the meeting, which was attended by representatives of all parties, farmer leaders and two seers, who are spearheading the protest in North Karnataka region, senior state counsel Mr Katharaki appraised the delegation on the ground realities.
Leader of Congress in Parliament Mr Mallikarjun Kharge recalled that Late Indira Gandhi had intervened in the Telugu-Ganga project row when there was a dispute between Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and solved the problem.
He said that Goa was ruled by BJP itself and the Prime Minister should convince the Goa Chief Minister on the drinking water project.
Former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa suggested that the Chief Minister should talk to his Goa counterpart and the BJP MPs and Union ministers would also talk to him and convince him.
However, an argument broke out between Dharwad MLA Vinay Kulkarni and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai over a comment.
When Mr Kulkarni said that the Centre was not doing much on the issue, Mr Bommai shot back asking what the UPA government did in 10 years.
After a heated argument, Mr Kharge intervened and said that there was no point in such arguments as the state had to be united.
HDK won’t accompany delegation, cites health issue
JD(S) floor leader H.D. Kumaraswamy will not be part of the all-party delegation, that would be calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening.
Mr Kumaraswamy has written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, extending the full support of his party to the delegation and said that he could not accompany the Chief Minister due to health issues. Mr Kumaaswamy is said to have twisted his ankle during the BBMP poll campaign.
“This is the state’s project, all parties should work together to get the project implemented. Though I am not able to accompany the delegation, my party representatives will be in the delegation.
Even on the other issues pertaining to sugarcane growers, grape growers, sericulture and drought, I had been warning the government since 2013.
However, the government had failed to gather proper statistics. At least now, they should present proper statistics before the Prime Minister,” he added.
On Sunday, Mr Kumaraswamy did not attend the all-party meeting. Senior leader Basavaraj Horatti represented the party. When the meeting began, party MLA Kona Reddy was protesting near the Vidhana Soudha gate.
Mr Siddaramaiah dispatched Mr Horatti to get Mr Kona Reddy to the meeting.
