Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (VP)

Mangaluru, Mar 21: Vedavyas Kamath, MLA of Mangaluru South, criticized the Congress state government for its "injustice" towards farmers and "failure" to preserve drinking water for Bengaluru and Mangaluru City.

Addressing the media on Thursday, March 21, at the BJP office, Vedavyas Kamath emphasized, "The population entirely depends on water, and the state government should take responsibility for ensuring its availability. Unfortunately, the state government has failed in this regard. When there is a scarcity of water, it becomes evident during events, and this situation needs to be addressed. Even in Mangaluru, students from Bengaluru come here to work from home. The state government must fulfill the needs of the public."

He further stated, "After the Assembly elections, the Congress party has been in power for 8 years, yet no significant development has been made regarding the drought. The Congress has neglected the welfare of our state's farmers, resulting in nearly 800 suicides, a historical high in Karnataka. The state government must devise plans to address this crisis, ensure compensation for the deceased farmers, and control rising bank loans. Moreover, there are drinking water problems in Uttara Karnataka and Dakshina Kannada. The Chief Minister seems to have lost his direction, primarily focusing on Bengaluru, leaving farmers to suffer."

"New committees need to be formed to address farmers' issues promptly. However, the state government has been sluggish in providing compensation. Today, the state government's incompetence is evident, as it has only declared a drought without taking substantial action. Under the leadership of Basavaraj Bommai, the necessary actions were taken, whereas the current government seems helpless. The water problems in Bengaluru have garnered international attention. While Bengaluru is renowned for business and IT, the government's lack of planning, including diverting water to Tamil Nadu, raises questions about its priorities. The Congress's indifference towards farmers will be evident in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. There has been no scientific research or crop counting done to facilitate compensation for farmers. Under BJP rule, farmers were provided with Rs 10,000, but the Congress reduced it to ?6,000. The government must support farmers and ensure adequate electricity supply," he added.

Regarding illegal sand mining activities, Kamath reiterated the BJP's stance against such practices and called for stringent measures to combat them. He accused the Congress of exploiting revenues from illegal sand mining and emphasized the need for proactive intervention by the state government to curb these activities.

Responding to queries about the IPL matches scheduled in Bengaluru amidst the drought, Kamath reiterated the need for the government to prioritize water supply for essential needs over sporting events. He emphasized the government's responsibility to address public concerns and ensure adequate water supply during times of scarcity.

In conclusion, Kamath reiterated the BJP's commitment to combating illegal activities such as cow slaughter and sand mining. He criticized the Congress for its alleged involvement in these activities and called for stringent action against perpetrators. Nitin Kumar, Sanjay, Vasant Poojary, and others were also present at the press conference.