From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 21: Leader of Opposition R Ashoka has urged the chief minister Siddaramaaiah and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar to clarify their stance on the DMK election manifesto that opposes the Mekedatu project and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin’s assertion that he will not allow implementation of the project.

Addressing a presser at the party office on Thursday, Ashoka said the Congress government should explain to the people whether interests of the people of Karnataka or the opposition I.N.D.I.A block is more important.

‘’Vowing to implement Mekedatu project, Shivakumar had taken bath in Mekedatu. Now there is no water even to drink let alone bathe,’’ he said.

The BJP leader said the chief minister and deputy chief minister must use their influence and prevail upon DMK to drop the reference to Mekedatu in its manifesto if they are serious over protecting the interests of Karnataka. As long as they don’t do it, they don’t have the moral right to criticise the Centre, he said.

Ashoka attacked the Congress government as a "weak government’’ and Siddaramaiah as the ‘’weak CM’’ and said the government must take immediate steps to release Rs 50 crore to each taluk if there are funds in the treasury and Rs 10 crore to committees headed by legislators.

The senior BJP leader said the Congress party has got Rs 1,300 crore under the electoral bonds and BJP got 30% while other parties got 70% of the funds. The Congress should first return the funds received by it and later speak against the Centre, he added.