Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Mar 12: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Saturday March 12 said it was 'natural' for people of the coastal region to demand a separate Tulunadu state if their demands to drop the controversial Yettianahole project was not met, and that both the Congress and the BJP would be 'cursed' if a separate state were to be formed.

Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here, Poojary said, "Is Yettinahole the only permanent solution to the irrigation and drinking water problems of Chikkaballapur and Kolar? There are other rivers too. Is the government blind? The government is meting out a stepmotherly treatment to Dakshina Kannada.

"I invite president of Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha Kodihalli Chandrashekar and other office-bearers of Raita Sangha to the coastal region for a debate. We do not have enough water in Netravati basin in March itself, then how can we give water to the people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur?"

Lashing out at Kodihalli Chandrashekar for supporting only the interests of people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur and neglecting Dakshina Kannada, he said, "What wrong have farmers done to you for taking a stand against them?"

Lambasting state and union governments, he said, "The implementation of the project is an attempt to bring famine in this region. In the process you are indirectly killing people here. Hence the people of this region are demanding a separate Tulunadu state, and if a separate state is formed, the curse of dividing Karnataka will fall on both BJP and Congress.

"I ask MLAs and MPs of this region, why are you not raising your voice against this project in the assembly and the parliament? Only power is important to you and not the interests of the people," he charged.

"I urge the people and farmers of the coastal region to come to the streets and oppose the project, as none of the MLAs and MPs are going to speak against it," he added.

"I too support permanent drinking water solution for the people of Chikkaballapur and Kolar, but not at the cost of Netravati river. If this project is implemented, there will be no fresh water flowing into the sea and fish will go extinct. This will result in suicides of fishermen, and of almost all the people of the coastal region too. It is not too late, the state government can still drop the project.

"The people of this region are getting a feeling that none of the political parties or leaders are supporting them. Everyone feels that the people of this region are not able to raise their voice. I even question BJP leaders Yeddyurappa, Eshwarappa and Jagadish Shettar and even Congress leader Veerappa Moily - the people of this region will not forgive you. Not even once you have spoken for the people of this region. Hence, the demand for a separate state is natural," he said.

"As many as 138 taluks are affected by drought. I suggest chief minister Siddaramaiah to visit those taluks with ministers and officers and take adequate measures to solve the problem. I have always said that some of the ministers in the government are not working, but I have spoken only against the government and not the party. The strength of the party lies in its party workers," Poojary added.

Criticizing MLA Ramesh Kumar for allegedly passing derogatory comments against him in the assembly, Poojary said, "In the assembly, Ramesh Kumar has used unparliamentary and derogatory words against me. The speaker was quiet, even though the accusations were made without any proof. Ramesh Kumar was speaker of the assembly once, and he should know that when you are accusing someone in the assembly in that person's absence, those comments should not be taken into record. Does he not know this rule? I ask speaker Kagodu Thimmappa what exactly he was doing when Ramesh Kumar was making these comments? Ramesh Kumar, you can suppress my voice, but not the voice of the coastal region.

"There are reports stating that Ramesh Kumar has acquired 100 acre land belonging to SC/ST community and the forest department. The comments that you (Ramesh Kumar) made against me are due to your frustration on not being made minister," he alleged.

Asked if he would lead the agitation to demand a separate Tulunadu state, he said, "Poojary is already dead, and the only thing remaining is for some people to build my tomb. Only time will decide whether Poojary will lead the agitation or not."

Former mayor Hilda Alva, former deputy mayor Kavita, corporator Naveen D'Souza and others were present.