Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Jan 4: In a damage control bid, the district BJP on Wednesday January 4 downplayed the party president B S Yeddyurappa's statement in support of the Yettinahole project and assured that all efforts will be made to convince the former chief minister to change his stance.

Yeddyurappa had on Tuesday January 4 said during his visit to Kolar that the Yettinhole project had BJP's full support. "There is absolutely no doubt that we are in support of the project. It was approved during my tenure and funds were released during the tenure of Sadananda Gowda. The Yettinahole project will be a blessing for the people of Kolar. People of Dakshina Kannada are opposing it, we will need to convince them and take their opinion too. The present government is not putting in sincere efforts to complete any project, including taking clearance from the authorities concerned. But BJP is determined to support the project and ensure its completion," Yeddyurappa had said.

Rather shaken by the stance of its own party president even as the district leaders here including MP Nalin Kumar Kateel continue to oppose the project, district BJP president Sanjeeva Mathandoor said, "BJP leaders will make him (Yeddyurappa) understand the reality. The district BJP still opposes the Yettinahole project."

Addressing reporters in the district BJP office in the city, he said, "We do not know the exact context in which he said that he would convince the district BJP leaders to support the project. Differences of opinion are common in a national political party. The district BJP still stands firm in its opposition to the project. We will meet him and try to convince him to see the reality."

The BJP also defended MP Nalin Kumar Kateel over his controversial 'fire' remarks. "The Congress leader especially the two ministers from the district, instead of giving various statements, should think of giving good administration in the state for the remaining tenure of the government. It is unfortunate that the Congress leaders are still criticising Nalin Kumar even though the MP has apologised for his statement," Mathandoor said.

Asked to respond to the allegations that the BJP has been continuously ignoring the murder of Vinayak Baliga and a few others and taking the state government to task with regard to the murders of Sangh Parivar and BJP activists alone, he said, "A few BJP leaders have visited Baliga's house and consoled the family. A murder is a murder and the BJP neither supports the murderers nor the crime."

District vice-president Capt Brijesh Chowta, spokesperson Jitendra Kottary and others were present.