Vijayapura: At a time when rumours are that several JD (S) MLAs are unhappy with the party leaders, mainly Former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy and his father Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, thus planning to switch over to other parties, Former MLA and veteran party leader, N. H. Konareddy has refused to give a clear reply whether he too is planning to quit the JD (S).
Addressing media persons here at the party office on Wednesday September 22, he said “As of now I am in JD (S) and would not like to add more to it.” He did not give a clear answer when reporters asked whether he was quitting the party or not.
He said that the party has called a State-level Executive Committee meeting at Bidadi of Ramanagara District on September 27 of this month where various matters will be discussed.
“You will get answers to all your questions after that meeting. Meanwhile some fans and seniors have advised me to stay quiet on the matter, thus I am saying nothing about it,” he said.
Refusal to give direct reply on his future in the JD (S) is seen as clear indication that Konareddy is also one among the disgruntled leaders of the JD (S).
Earlier, he accused the BJP leaders, mainly the MPs of the State of not showing any interest in the development of North Karnataka region.
Demanding the Modi Government to declare UKP third phase as national project, he alleged that despite BJP ruling in State and at the Centre, it has no interest in getting UKP-III declared as national project.
“BJP has a majority of MPs and people have not elected them to keep quiet. People elected them to raise public issues. But unfortunately, the BJP MPs are not raising important issues such as UKP-III being declared as a national project,” he said.
When asked if the JD (S) will fight for it as an opposition party, he said he has been building momentum to demand that the Centre provide 371J facilities to the NK region. “In this project, we will include the demand to declare UKP-III as a national project,” said Konareddy.
Accusing the BJP government for not sending its Minister to the protesting spot in Indi town where farmers are holding a protest for over 22 days for complete irrigation of the district, he said that the government should have sent at least Deputy Commissioner to talk to the agitators.
He alleged that the BJP Government is trying to sabotage the protest of the farmers by booking cases against the activists. “Let me make it very clear that we will not sit quietly and we will intensify our agitation,” he said.
District President, Mallikarjun Yendigeri, Riyaz Faruqui, Raju Hipparagi and other office bearers of the party were present.
