From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 22: BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar, Opposition leader in the State Assembly, and former State President Prahlad Joshi, MP, have strongly criticised the proposed Bengaluru Bandh on February 4to protest against the Centre’s inaction to resolve the Mahadayi water sharing dispute with Goa, the day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city, as a Congress-sponsored move.
Addressing a press conference in Hubballi on Monday, the two BJP leaders alleged that the bandh was being held at the behest of the ruling Congress party in Karnataka to cause inconvenience to the BJP workers.
The two BJP leaders along with MLAs Basavaraj Bommai and C C Patil squarely blamed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for instigating the protestors to create a law and order situation in the city and blame the BJP during the Prime Minister’s visit.
File Photo
Shettar, the former State Chief Minister, pointed out that the BJP was in support of the demand for a negotiated settlement of the issue in the interests of the drought-prone people of the State.
"When several organisations have already called for a bandh on January 25 over Mahadayi issue, what is the need for another Bengaluru-specific bandh on February 4?," Shettar asked.
The BJP leader pointed out that the ruling Congress party had deliberately instigated the Kannada organisations and farmers to give a call for Bengaluru bandh on February 4 as on that day the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Bengaluru for taking part in valedictory ceremony of BJP’s Parivartana Rally.
"It is a deliberate attempt by the Chief Minister to prevent people from coming to BJP’s rally," he said.
Shettar said Siddaramiah was instigating and supporting the activists to call for a bandh on February 4.
He said if he does not stop indulging in such activities, BJP would begin staging similar protests during visits by AICC president Rahul Gandhi.
Shettar and Joshi said the BJP members would stage protests during visits of Rahul Gandhi to Karnataka in the coming days.
Shettar also urged Rahul Gandhi to spell out his party’s stand on the issue.
"Siddaramaiah and Congress don’t want to find a resolution to the long pending Mahadayi row. After Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar wrote a letter in response to Yeddyurappa’s letter, Siddaramaiah should have acted like a statesman if he really wanted to find a solution. Instead he is just doing politics," the BJP leader argued.
The former BJP Chief Minister wanted to know the reasons for convening an all-party meeting on Mahadayi in Bengaluru on January 27, when Siddramaiah was yet to act according to the decision taken during the last such meeting.
“It was resolved in the last meeting that Congress and BJP leaders in Karnataka would speak and convince their counterparts in Goa on the issue. Siddaramaiah should explain what he has done in this regard,” Shettar said.
He clarified that BJP leaders would participate in the all-party meeting to clarify their stand on the issue.
Shettar said that the legal team of Karnataka had failed in presenting its argument properly before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal.