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

Mangaluru, Apr 9: JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday April 9 slammed the Congress state government and said that it had done nothing to solve the persisting problems in the state like drought and power shortage.

Addressing reporters at Circuit House here during his visit to the city enroute Moodbidri where he is scheduled to attend a felicitation programme, Kumaraswamy said, "There are several problems like drought, drinking water problem, shortage of electricity etc in the state, but the state has not taken any serious measures or found solutions to these problems, nor has it implemented any programmes in this regard.

"The central government has sanctioned Rs 1,541 crore to the state as compensation for crop damage. The state government is saying that it has distributed the compensation to all districts, but the fact is, this money is being misused and looted in districts like Ballari and Kolar. Officers have no fear or respect for law. Even the Supreme Court criticized the union and state governments and directed them to take adequate measures in drought-hit areas," he added.

"The money that was coming in under NREGA programme has been stopped due to financial crisis. Coolie workers have become jobless. The state government has put upon itself several problems like power shortage. It has made long-term agreements to purchase electricity for 9.8 paise from other states, and I questioned this in the Assembly. When states like Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are purchasing power at 4.34 paise and 4.15 paise respectively, why is it so expensive for Karnataka? The state has even increased the power tariff by 20 to 50 paise. This is burden on the common man," Kumaraswamy said.

"Cess on petrol and diesel have also increased in the state. Soon, the contract carriage bus owners will come to the streets in protest, as the amount they need to pay to the government has been increased by three times.

"The agriculture sector has been reduced to a pathetic condition in two years. The government is not giving positive message to farmers. The cooperative sector is getting bankrupt," he added.

Commenting on the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), he said, "Corrupt IAS officers are being promoted to work for the union government. Will ACB curb corruption? The government is working to protect the corrupt officers. People like Santosh Hegde showed the true power of Lokayukta, but now it is being destabilized. ACB is to protect the corrupt.

"The chief minister is defending the ACB saying that it is already there in 14 other states. If you go to its website you can see to what extent corruption has been controlled by ACB in these states," he added on sarcastic note.

"Sand mafia is rampant in Dakshina Kannada district. The poor cannot build houses as they cannot purchase sand at the prevailing market price. No action has been taken though illegal sand mining has been going from three years. Not only in DK, but in the entire state, sand is being transported to Kerala," he added.

On former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's appointment as chief of BJP in Karnataka, he said, "BJP activists are celebrating this announcement as if he has become the chief minister. Let us wait and see. BJP has appointed him to reorganize its party. During its tenure in the state, BJP gave bad administration and sowed the seeds of corruption, and ministers and officers had been sent to jail. What moral right do they have to talk on corruption? So we'll leave it to the people to decide."

He further added, "The state has a debt Rs 2,80,000 crore, which started by BJP government and continued by the Congress. People have seen both BJP and Congress in power, so now they need to think on these issues."

On why the district unit of JD(S) was silent on the controversial Yettinahole project, Kumaraswamy said, "Our party is very small in this district. I have collected details on this project. Leaders like Dr Veerendra Heggade and Pejawar Swamiji should call technical experts and discuss it with the protestors. If there is excess water available, it can be taken after careful examination, without harming Dakshina Kannada, but it should not be done at the cost of the district. Hence the government should hold a public meeting with all the stakeholders, experts and protestors first."

On the Paramashivaiah report on irrigation projects, he said, "I have never discussed this. People of Kolar and Chikkaballapur need drinking water. I have raised question in the Assembly as to whose pockets the money meant for Yettinahole project would fill. The government has no proper report on the Yettinahole project. It should give importance to Mekedatu and other water projects too. As far as I know, according to experts, Paramashivaiah report is technically not viable nor practical."

Announcing an upcoming party meet to tackle corruption in the state, he said, "There is a lot corruption in the state. Recently, even a sitting judge of a court had said that judgement can be bought. Caste, money, religion should go away from politics. The situation is pathetic today. On April 16, we will hold a meeting with party MLAs in Mysuru to stop corruption and loot in the state and prevent it from becoming a jungle raj. If my party comes to power I will remove ACB within 24 hours," he asserted.

To a question on the murder of RTI activist Vinayak Baliga in the city, he said, "I came to know about it. BJP leaders were protesting in Mysuru against the murder of their party activist recently. Why are they not protesting here?"

District JD(S) president Mohammed Kunhi, corporator Rajesh Kudroli and others were present.