Yadgir: State BJP Chief B.S. Yeddyurappa on Wednesday accused both Congress and JD(S) of indulging in a futile attempt to spoil his party’s image as they have become jittery over the good response his visits were eliciting in drought -hit areas.
Speaking after inaugurating a convention of backward classes at Yergol village near here, Yeddyurappa took strong exception to the remark by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that BJP leaders were touring the drought affected areas during the rainy season. "Let Siddaramaiah abandon his helicopter and tour by road, he will realise how grave the situation is. If the Chief Minister has an iota of concern for the people, let him tour the affected places. I have been touring the affected places for the last 18 days and Congress-JD(S) leaders are not able to stomach the good response I'm getting", he remarked.
The CM had promised to spend Rs 50,000 crore on Krishna basin projects. But so far they have provided only Rs 35,000 crores. "If the CM is really concerned about farmers, let him demonstrate his commitment by waiving their loans", he declared.
Yeddyurappa, who had earlier visited Yergol tank, attacked senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge for neglecting the irrigation schemes in the area. "Though he represented Gurmitkal constituency for over 40 years, he never paid attention to developing irrigation, which is the backbone of agriculture", he remarked.
Yeddyurappa, who has been under fire from the Opposition for having hotel made breakfast with Dalit families during his tour, sharply reacted to the comments. "I have been visiting Dalits for the past forty years and attending to their grievances. But the Congress party has been using Dalits and minorities as their vote banks since Independence. They are being exploited by keeping them in the dark without extending them any facilities. Therefore, Congress leaders have no moral right to question my visits" , he asserted.
Former Minister Govind Karjol, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje, and Narasimha Naik, former Minister also spoke.
