On comeback trail, BS Yeddyurappa fishes in Mahadayi waters, seeks session

Hubballi: Lambasting AICC president Sonia Gandhi, former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should clarify his party stand on Mahadayi water dispute before visiting Karnataka next month(Now postponed).

Addressing press persons here on Monday while taking part in the movement for Kalasa Banduri project for the first time in Nargund and Navalgund, he said that the statement of Sonia Gandhi during the Goa elections that her party is committed not to allow the diversion of Mahadayi water to Malaprabha, has caused much confusion and anger among people in Karnataka.

He also urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to convene a special session of the Legislature to discuss the Mahadayi water dispute and rising farmer suicide cases. He has threatened to stage a dharna in front of Vidhan Soudha and residence of the Chief Minister along with MPs and MLAs if the State government failed to initiate measures to resolve Mahadayi water dispute at the earliest.

Stating that the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee has given statutory and in principle clearance for the project, he said that the UPA government had failed to resolve the problem during its tenure of 10 years. He also said that Congress leaders were politicising the issue to tarnish the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by misleading people.

"Congress leaders in the State should first convince their own party leaders who are in the Opposition in Goa and Maharashtra over Mahadayi dispute. Congress should create conducive atmosphere for talks with both neighboring states. The Prime Minister has already clarified that he will apprise BJP governments in both States about the need to implement Kalasa Banduri project. Therefore, taking another all-party delegation to the Centre will not help to resolve the water dispute", Mr Yeddyurappa said.

Urging the Chief Minister to issue a White Paper on the financial position of the state, he said the Chief Minister has failed to collect commercial tax to the tune of Rs 8,500 crore and the state was on the verge of bankruptcy. He also said that the government was in deep slumber as it had convened Legislative session only for 48 days during the last 9 months. He warned that the power problem will worsen in the days to come and farmers would bear the brunt if the government failed to take any measures to buy power from other States.