From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, July 28: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D K Shivakumar warmly complimented and congratulated the newly installed Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and urged him to provide good and people-friendly administration while sparing no efforts to set right the injustice done to the State by the Centre.
Speaking to the media, the KPCC Chief said none of the ruling party MPs or Union Ministers fought for protecting the interests of the State in parliament or outside and hoped that Bommai will rectify the situation.
The Mekedatu project and several other issues are pending, which should be accorded primacy by the new Chief Minister, Shivakumar said.
The Union government has done precious little for Karnataka during the last two years, he said and attacked the Centre for ignoring the plight of the State and its interests in all respects, especially in irrigation projects and releasing funds.
Referring to outgoing Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s public display of emotions and tears while announcing his decision to quit, Shivakumar wanted to know the reasons behind Yediyurappa’s tears and pain. ``Let the people know whether Yediyurappa resigned on his own or forced to do so,’’ he said the Lingayat Mutt pontiffs who stood behind the former Chief Minister must at least ensure that the people were made aware of whether he was deposed from power.
"I am not questioning the decision of Swamijis. They are free to do what they want as it is their freedom. But at least they must keep the people informed about why Yediyurappa resigned,’’ he said.
Shivakumar mentioned the statement of Yediyurappa that he was not allowed to form his cabinet for two months and that he had to roam the State like a mad man soon after assuming office as Karnataka was ravaged by unprecedented floods. ``Some persons in the ruling party conspired to oust Yediyurappa and waged a relentless campaign for change of leadership. There instances of someone writing to the then Governor too against the Chief Minister. Some others said they have answered the examinations and were anxiously awaiting results, while some BJP legislators waged a dissident battle,’’ he said without mentioning names Basavaraj PatilYatnal, K S Eshwarappa, C P Yogeshwar, Aravind Bellad or A H Vishwanath for causing trouble against Yediyurappa.
``There was no coordination within the government and infighting among ministers. The State’s progress has suffered seriously during the last two years,’’ he said he does not want to speak about who won or who lost because change of leadership and electing new Chief Minister was an internal matter of the ruling party.
``What the people want and what I demand is good and people-friendly administration,’’ he said.
Later, Shivakumar went to Bharatinagar in Maddur taluk of Mandya district to participate in the condolence meeting arranged for the deceased senior party leader G Made Gowda along with former minister Cheluvarayaswamy, Narendraswamy and KPCC Kisan Cell President Sachin Meega, Gurucharanas also Made Gowda’s son Madhu Made Gowda.
The veteran Congress leader from Mandya district was a relentless fighter for the rights of farmers, especially on the Cauvery water issue, he said pointing out that Made Gowda was a role model for those interested in social service and fighting for the people’s causes.