Karnataka: JD(S) to meet Goa CM over Kalasa-Banduri

BENGALURU: Extending their support to the shut-down called by farmers’ association on Kalasa-Banduri project, leaders of JD(S) on Tuesday decided to seek an appointment with Chief Minister Goa to convince him to approve the drinking water project.

Speaking to the media after a meeting of JD (S) legislature party here, Mr Kumaraswamy said “There is a lot of mudslinging by leaders of Congress and BJP over the issue. While Congress leaders point a finger at New Delhi, saying that there is no positive response from the Prime Minister, BJP leaders allege that the state government was not interested in settling the issue amicably. The state government does not seem to be interested in meeting the Goa CM and JD(S) will try to do that. Meanwhile, JD(S) supremo Mr H D Deve Gowda has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister, and if he gets it , some JD (S) leaders would go with him to discuss the issue.''

Reacting to former chief minister B.S Yeddyurappa’s statement that if leaders of all parties agree, then he would take up the leadership and talk to the Prime Minister as well as Chief Minister of Goa, Mr Kumaraswamy said he did no objection to Mr Yeddyurappa taking the initiative. “The issue has to be solved first. The BJP should first stop its Raitha Chaithanya Yatra for sometime till other issues are settled. Other than blaming the Congress, the BJP leaders have not done anything to instill confidence among farmers. Let them concentrate on resolving the Kalasa-Banduri issue first. The Chaithanya Yatra can wait as ZP and TP elections are three months away,” he added.

On the JD(S) joining hands with Congress in BBMP, Mr Kumaraswamy said this alliance attracted attention while those for other local bodies did not. “In Mysuru, we joined hands with the BJP to keep Congress, but the issue was never raised.  Likewise, in some local bodies, BJP and Congress have joined hands to keep the JD (S) out of power,” he said. said.