Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Dec 28: Former chief minister and JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy said he has an alternative solution for the ‘Yettinahole’ project which will not harm the interests of citizens of Dakshina Kannada, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Bengaluru Rural, and Ramanagaram districts.

Addressing a press meet at Circuit house here on Thursday, December 28, he lashed out at the state government and said that the ‘Yettinahole’ project is initiated to loot the tax payer’s money.

“Everyone knows that this project will never complete and both Congress and BJP are playing a game. If JD(S) comes to power, we will sort this issue without harming the interest of citizens,” he said.

“D V Sadananda Gowda led BJP government had given the approval for the Yettinahole project. Then Congress government upheld the project and assured the people of Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and Tumakuru that they will get water within a year. But even after four years they have not completed the project. At the same time they did not care for the requests from the people of Dakshina Kannada and kept the project going. They know very well that the people of both sides have their own demands. This project will help BJP and Congress to gain politically and financially,” he alleged.

He also added that the BJP is trying to get some political mileage on this issue. Being approver of the project they are still playing the double game. “In Mangaluru, their own MP is leading the march against the project. But they are silent when the issue comes about the project approver. ‘Yettinahole’ project is a big scam and many have looted money from this. When time comes, I will reveal the names of persons who are included in this scam,” he said.

Taking a dig at Siddaramaiah government, he said, “State government is wasting the public money by giving advertisements and organizing public gatherings. Chief minister and other ministers are inaugurating the completed projects and taking credit for it. But actually all recent inaugurated projects were started by other governments. In advertisements, the state government is using the words ‘Approved’, ‘Ongoing’, ‘Started’ etc. Nowhere we can see the word ‘completed,”

He termed Siddaramaih’s administration skills as ‘poor’. “Instead of telling about development, in the government programmes, he is attacking BJP and campaigning for his party. Elections are near and people should think about throwing the Congress government from the state,” he said.

Giving the information on ‘Harmony March’ which will be held on January 9 at Mangaluru, he said, “Our coastal region, especially Dakshina Kannada has been continuously gaining name in communal violence. Some people who have some hidden agendas are behind this. So with a message of peace in this region we are organising the harmony march. This march is not limited to one district but targets the entire coastal belt,” he said.

State Secretary B.M Farooq, Leaders Amarnath Shetty, Ashwin Pereira were present among others.