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

Mangaluru, Aug 13: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Saturday August 13 lambasted the state and the union governments over the controversial Mahadayi river dispute and said that it was just a 'minute's work' for the Prime Minister to solve the issue, and also called for the resignation of all MPs from Karnataka.

Addressing reporters at the Press Club here, Poojary said, "Mahadayi has become a serious issue. This is a question of drinking water. Access to drinking water is a fundamental right. The union and the state governments have failed in their duty in finding an alternative way to provide water to the people.

"This is a one-minute work for the Prime Minister, but he is not ready to solve the issue. Let him call a meeting of the chief ministers of the three states concerned, just as the other PMs like Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Morarji Desai had done, and solve the drinking water problem.

"The PM knows the law. If he has the will, he should call all the three CMs and solve the issue. This would be a legal way to deal with the issue. But now the case is in the judiciary," he added.

Calling for resignation of all Karnataka MPs, he said, "All MPs of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha of all parties from Karnataka should resign, then the union government will collapse. All MLAs should also resign, and then the state government will also fall. Our aim is not to pull down the governments, but the welfare of 6 crore people of Karnataka."

Addressing himself to PM Narendra Modi, Poojary said, "This is not a good time - understand this. With time we should also change. Karnataka has only two reservoirs and water is less in both. The PM and the CM should understand the problems of people who are shedding tears."

Berating CM Siddaramaiah over his decision not to celebrate his birthday, he said, "You (CM) have said you will not celebrate your birthday - is that a great achievement? In my whole life I have not celebrated my birthday, or my children's or grandchildren's birthdays - but have I died? No. Nothing will happen if you do not celebrate your birthday. People are dying without water and women are shedding tears. The PM and the CM should watch television to understand the agony of the people."

He also opined that PM Modi should take a policy decision on interlinking rivers.