Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Dec 9: "Let the opposition BJP leaders move privilege motion against the state government in both the Legislative Council and the Assembly. I will then convince the chief minister to withdraw the Yettinahole project, and if I fail to do so, I will quit politics," challenged district in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai.
His comments a day prior to the massive Ratha Yatra planned in the district against the Yettinhole project by Netravati Samrakshana Samyukta Samiti. The district BJP has lent support to the rally, and has said that MP Nalin Kumar Kateel may lead the protest.
Addressing media persons at Circuit House here on Friday December 9, Rai said, "Some people in the name of 'Save Netravati' have announced that they will undertake Ratha Yatra from Subramanya. I am talking about this mainly because the people in the forefront are of the BJP and the Sangha Parivar. This is undertaken with a political motive to unnecessarily put the blame on the current Siddaramaiah-led government.
"Former chief minister Yeddyurappa announced this project in the 2011 budget during his tenure. A senior minister of this region briefed the media about it. At that point no one spoke against it.
"Later when Sadananda Gowda was the chief minister he sanctioned the project. The next CM Jagadish Shettar continued the project, but no one spoke even at that point. But when the Siddaramaiah government came to power it has been projected as if this government is completely responsible for it.
"Let me tell these protesters - it was me who organized a one-day seminar to stress that 'Netravati Nadi Thiruvu' can affect the people of this region. Not even one of these protesters including the BJP people spoke or attended that seminar," he said.
"They should first protest against Yeddyurappa, Jagadish Shettar and Sadananda Gowda. Nalin Kumar Kateel says that he has done much developmental work. I feel that he is taking the leadership of this rally to hide his failure. When this project was approved BJP leaders and ministers of this region did not oppose. Even then, if now they really want to stop then let them move privilege motion. I, Ramanath Rai will convince chief minister to drop the project, and if I fail I will exit from politics," he declared.
On asked why could not pressurise the state government to withdraw the project, Rai said, "There is a big percentage of people who are in support of this project in the Assembly. While BJP people are undertaking padayatra from Kolar to Bengaluru demading the completion of the Yettinahole project, BJP leaders here are opposing it. They are just trying to gain political mileage. BJP leaders are two-faced snakes."