Kalasa-Banduri project: HDK challenges BJP to an open debate

Bengaluru: Charging BJP with ‘petty politics’, State Janata Dal (Secular) President H.D. Kumaraswamy said he was ready for an open debate in Hubballi, Navalgund or Nargund on the vexatious Kalasa-Banduri drinking water project.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, he lambasted the BJP leaders and accused them of indulging in petty politics by portraying him and his father, Mr H.D. Deve Gowda as ‘anti-north Karnataka’. He said his government had earmarked Rs 100 crore for the execution of this project, which would provide drinking water to several villages in Dharwad and Gadag districts.

He had sent the then-ministers, Mr Basavaraj Horatti and Mr Hanumanthappa Alkod for the foundation-laying function as he could not attend due to prior engagements. He said it was unbecoming on the part of BJP leaders to say that he had opposed the scheme. Mr Kumaraswamy said the then-deputy chief minister and finance minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa did not show much interest in this project.

Even other leaders like Mr Jagadish Shettar and Mr K.S. Eshwarappa, he alleged, wanted to give clearance to this project just for publicity. “I never uttered a single word against the Kalasa-Banduri project during my padayatra from Hubballi to Belagavi recently since it was aimed at overall development of north Karnataka region.”

He challenged BJP Lok Sabha members from the State to put pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get an interim order on releasing 7.5 tmcft of water from River Mahadayi to parched areas of N-K region. He affirmed that the JD(S) always wished for the development of N-K region and never opposed any project pertaining to that region. The BJP’s Chaitanya yatra, he felt, was politically motivated and not intended to instill confidence among distressed farmers.

A meeting of JD(S) leaders had been convened on Monday to discuss the future course of action regarding the Kalasa Banduri project, he informed.