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Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Dec 31: District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai clarified on Saturday, December 31 regarding the allegations made by Vijay Kumar Shetty regarding his behaviour during the Yettinahole meeting chaired by chief minister this week.

Addressing media persons here at district Congress office, Rai said "There was demand by the protesters that a meeting needs to be convened to discuss about the project. Thus I requested the chief minister to conduct a meeting accordingly. Discussions were held regarding the project where MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLC Ganesh Karnik, professor Mayya and many others spoke. Ramprasad of Indian Institute of water management also spoke and clarified about the project."

"During the course of the meeting when a brief summary of the project as to when the project was started was discussed, the protesters raised objection and said not to talk about the past developments. A small argument arouse on this. Vijay Kumar Shetty and I studied in the same college, shared same room in the hostel and using singular with him was out the relationship what we shared. I have not used any foul or wrong language ever. Their claim that nothing was discussed in the meeting is also false. The meeting was held for an hour and a half." Rai added.

"Various issues were discussed and the chief minister and Ramprasad gave all the clarifications. The BJP leaders gave different statements here and there only to gain political mileage. The meeting should have been held before the project was approved in the cabinet on 13 June 2012 and not now. According to my understanding, no matter which party comes to power, this project cannot be stopped. The protest is just to pacify people. Whatever personal comments are made against me by them are all false." Rai clarified.

While asked about the statement of Anil Madhav Dave, union minister of environment and forest that the ministry has not given any clearance for cutting down of trees for the Yettinahole project, Rai said "Can project continue without the approval of central government? It is a commonsense which everyone understands. I will not give any statement as you all know whether it is true or false."