Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Sep 14: “The discussions over the BJP-JD(S) alliance and seat sharing are in preliminary stage. Senior leaders will hold discussions and make a decision over it. We intend to get more seats as the opposition in the Lok Sabha elections. We have not arrived at an opinion,” said Karnataka’s former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai in Mangaluru.
Over the announcement of the drought-affected districts in the state, he said, “The government should have woken up when the monsoon was not up to the mark. They have delayed while obtaining the report and announcing the drought.
“Now that the monsoon is almost over, farmers cannot be helped. Therefore, the government should at least pay compensation for crop loss. We had paid compensation within a month of floods during our term without waiting for the centre’s directions.
“The current government says that they will pay compensation on the terms of the centre. They do not want to help people in distress. They are giving lame excuses. They have paid only Rs seven crore to the farmers instead of Rs 25,000 crore loan,” he said.
Over the Cauvery water dispute, Bommai said, “We have been saying that there is surplus water in Tamil Nadu dams. But the government is releasing water without considering the matter as serious. Therefore, the farmers on Cauvery river banks and people in Bengaluru are facing problems. The only solution is a legal campaign and convincing the Tamil Nadu government. But our chief minister does not want to speak to Tamil Nadu chief minister Stalin. The government should stand firm that they will not release the water. We will fight against the government if water is released.”.
Regarding Chaithra Kundapura case, Bommai said, “The BJP is nowhere connected to the case. Let all those who are involved in the case get arrested. The truth will be out after the probe. The BJP will think seriously over the issue when such elements misuse the party.”
On Chaithra Kundapura’s statement that prominent leaders’ names will be out in the case, he said, “Let the names be revealed. The probe in underway and those involved deserve punishment.”