CM letter on IIT has led to unrest: Jagadish Shettar

KALABURAGI: Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar on Monday launched into a blistering attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for playing mischief by setting the people of North Karnataka on internecine squabbling over the controversial issue of establishing the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

Put on the mat by the mediapersons who persistently asked him to clarify whether he still stood by the Cabinet decision taken during his tenure as Chief Minister to establish the IIT at Raichur or not, Mr Shettar lost his temper and let loose his fury on the Chief Minister. “Does he have sense in writing to the Centre to reconsider its decision to establish IIT at Dharwad? Is it a child’s play to establish IIT wherever you want? He (Mr Siddaramaiah) should have consulted the Opposition before writing such letter”, Mr Shettar asserted.

According to Mr Shettar, the Chief Minister had set up a fight among north Karnataka people as Mysuru did not get the chance. “In his heart, Siddaramaiah wanted the IIT to go to Mysuru. Now that Mysuru did not get the chance, he has written the letter to the Centre asking it to reconsider the decision. Would he have asked the Centre to reconsider its decision and establish IIT at Raichur had the experts’ committee recommended the name of Mysuru instead of Dharwad? Definitely he would not have done it. Now due to the wanton confusion created by the Chief Minister, both Dharwad as well as Raichur may miss the chance of getting IIT,” Mr Shettar warned adding already foundation stone has been laid in Andhra Pradesh which got IIT along with Karnataka, while confusion reigns here.

However despite repeated questioning, Mr Shettar did not clarify whether he still stood by the Cabinet decision taken during his tenure as chief minister or not. “My reply to your query is that Mr Siddaramaiah is solely responsible for creating the confusion and I did not exert any pressure on the Centre to establish it at Dharwad. Had he (CM) recommended the single name of Raichur to the Centre, this problem would not have arisen”, Mr Shettar replied before he declined to entertain any queries by maintaining a stoic silence.

Earlier accusing the Siddaramaiah government of neglecting the relief works in the state, Mr Shettar demanded the Chief Minister announce the waiver of loans due from them. “The mere announcement of waiver of interests on loans is not enough. What big benefit would farmers derive with the waiver of interests on the loans which would come to around Rs 150 crore? This shows how much concern this government has for the farmers”, he remarked.

To a query, Mr Shettar replied that state BJP leaders would plead with the Centre to announce a special package for the drought-stricken farmers of Karnataka if the State makes a representation that it would bear a part of the package. “Let the government say we will bear 25 or 30 per cent cost of the package”, he added.