Hubballi: A day after BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa released a letter written to him by Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar expressing willingness to provide Mahadayi water for drinking purposes, unconvinced farmers and pro-Kannada activists hit the streets in Hubballi and Gadag on Friday claiming it was a move by the saffron party to gain mileage with an eye on the Assembly polls. Several farmer leaders have given a call for a North Karnataka bandh on December 27.
Sources said hundreds of farmers from Nargund and Navalgund taluks have already left for Bengaluru to lay siege to the BJP office. “The BJP leaders have received a mere assurance from the Goa Chief Minster to release water. But we want the Kalasa Banduri project to be implemented soon. We will sit on a dharna in front of the BJP office in Bengaluru until our demand is fulfilled”, farmer leader Veeresh Sobaradmath said.
Another farmer leader, Vikas Soppin said, the Karnataka chief minister should not waste time writing another letter to the Goa chief minister and should instead submit a plea to the Mahadayi Water Dispute tribunal seeking an early verdict.
Stating that the BJP has insulted farmers by merely giving an assurance on release of water, he questioned the rationale behind a Chief Minister writing a letter to his party leader rather than to the constitutionally elected government in Karnataka.
