From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 7: State Congress President D K Shivakumar and Congress Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah announced an over 100-kms long padayatra in the first week of December demanding immediate implementation of the Mekedatu dam project.

Addressing a joint press conference at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office on Sunday, the two Congress leaders said the exact date and schedule for the padayatra will be announced later.

The padayatra will include leaders and party workers from the districts of Bengaluru urban, Ramangara, Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, Kolar and other districts, the Congress leaders said.

Reminding the ruling BJP in the State that they are leading a double-engine government at the Centre and in the State, the Congress leaders said there was no legal hurdle for implementing the Mekedatu project. But both the Union government and the Basavaraj Bommai government are not exhibiting the will power to go ahead with the project, they said.

Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah pointed out that Supreme Court has not objected to the Mekedatu project and it merely needs the Union Environment Ministry’s green signal, which can easily be given by the Narendra Modi government if it is really interested in ensuring that the interests of Karnataka are protected.

Karnataka is taking up the Mekedatu project out of its own funds and is utilising its rightful share of waters. There is no legal hurdle from the Supreme Court, Siddaramaiah said and pointed out that Bommai need not wait for anybody’s permission.

"We don’t know if the Chief Minister is facing any political pressure (not to go ahead with the project). But it is evident, that the Chief Minister lacks the political will," Siddaramaiah said pointing out the Congress government had already sent a detailed project report to the Centre for clearance.

The KPCC Chief said the party will launch the membership enrolment drive from November 14.

The Congress Working Committee has announced the election schedule after 12 years and the membership enrolment will be taken up online and offline. All those who have been members also need to renew their membership by paying Rs 5 while newcomers will have apply for membership by paying a fee of Rs 100 each.

Shivakumar announced that the party will hold a function to celebrate the platinum jubilee of the country’s independence on November 14 and the Congress party’s role in the freedom struggle. All leaders from different levels will be invited, he said.

In the morning, the KPCC Chief and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar inaugurated the party’s new research centre. KPCC Working President Saleem Ahmed, former Minister Priyank Kharge and others were present.

Senior party leaders including Congress party opposition leader in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge, Siddaramaiah, Council opposition leader S R Patil, former Union Minister K H Muniyappa, Dr G Parameshwar, Working Presidents Ishwar Khandre, Saleem Ahmed, B Ramalinga Reddy, Dhruvanarayan, R V Deshpande B K Hariprasad and others attend a meeting chaired by KPCC President Shivakumar.