Belagavi: “The Chief Minister Siddramaiah is politicising the issue of Kalasa-Banduri project”, alleged members of Parliament from Belagavi, Suresh Angadi and Prabhakar Kore, who are spearheading a struggle for the implementation of the project.
Addressing a press meet in the city, the two BJP MPs said that Siddaramaiah’s reaction after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unfair. They said, “Prime Minister told the all-party delegation that the issue of sharing waters under the Kalasa-Banduri project is before the tribunal and the three states involved in the issue should discuss it with each other.”
They added that the two asked Mr Siddaramaiah and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss with leaders of opposition in both Maharashtra and Goa to resolve the dispute. AICC chairman Sonia Gandhi should also be involved in taking opposition parties in both the neighbouring states into confidence, said Angadi.
Angadi recalled the statement made by Sonia Gandhi during the last assembly election rally in Goa that not a drop of water will be given from Mandovi river of Goa to other states. “The BJP leaders are willing to help in resolving the issue,” they said.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Pralhad Joshi and Opposition leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar lashed out at JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and state party president H.D. Kumaraswamy for failing to accompany the all-party delegation that met Modi.
Stating that the JD(S) is trying to hijack the Mahadayi issue despite not taking part in the project foundation laying ceremony, Joshi and Shettar questioned the reason behind the state government not yet filing an interim application before the tribunal to seek allocation of Karnataka’s share of water for drinking purpose.
