Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Mar 19: District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai on Saturday March 19 dismissed allegations that he had been silent on the controversial Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water project and claimed that when the project was proposed in 2011, he was the first to oppose it by way of conducting a programme.
Addressing a press meet at Circuit House here, Rai said, "All the major political parties in the state are responsible for Yettinahole project. Blaming an individual or a party is not right.
"Yettinahole project was announced in the 2011 budget by Yeddiyurappa who was the chief minister then. Thereafter, chief ministers Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar implemented the project. All the BJP leaders were quiet then, but now they are accusing me of being silent on the issue. I was never silent on the issue. When the Netravati River Diversion Project was proposed, I was the first to conduct a programme opposing this project.
"They talk about taking people's opinion, but it had to be taken before implementing the project. The project was sanctioned in both the houses of the legislature. People of this district and the constituency know how much we work. I have never got into petty politics or been lazy in my work. At the state-level, BJP's agenda is to implement the project but in the district they oppose it. BJP is employing negative publicity on all issues to gain political milege," he alleged.
On being asked who would be responsible if the project failed, Rai answered, "All the major parties will be responsible for its success or failure."
On the Puttur temple invitation controversy he said, "Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim should not be categorized based on his name. He is the deputy commissioner of the district and should be seen as one. No one should try to give this issue a religious colour and try to disturb the communal harmony in the district."