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All-party delegation to visit Delhi to seek loan waiver support: CM
In Short
Shivakumar says Suryanagar, tunnel road and Kasturirangan report will come up for debate
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Chief Minister D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said the State government would take an all-party delegation to New Delhi to seek Central assistance for a farm loan waiver and drought relief for Karnataka.
Speaking to reporters near his residence in Sadashivanagar, Shivakumar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself acknowledged the drought situation and therefore the Centre had a responsibility to provide relief.
He urged BJP State president B Y Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and other Opposition leaders to join the delegation to Delhi and press the Centre for financial assistance, including support for waiving farmers’ loans.
Shivakumar said the Cabinet had discussed the drought situation and alleged that the Opposition was more interested in politics than studying the problems faced by farmers. He said a three-day special Assembly session had been convened to discuss the drought situation, farmers’ problems and the objections Karnataka needs to submit regarding the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats.
Responding to the Opposition’s demand to extend the session to seven days, the Chief Minister said the government would consider the views of all legislators. “Everyone is an elected representative. Let there be a discussion,” he said.
On criticism that the government had made a U-turn by withdrawing the Karnataka Government Parks (Conservation) Amendment Bill, Shivakumar said the decision was taken to facilitate a wider discussion in the Assembly. “Why should I take a U-turn? We have respected public sentiment. We will release details of what happened during the tenure of B S Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai. This issue needs to be discussed,” he said.
He clarified that the government had no intention of constructing the proposed 16.5-km tunnel road through Lalbagh and said alternative routes would be examined. “There is no intention to take away Lalbagh land for the tunnel project. We are not selling parks. Land has to be transferred wherever required for Metro projects,” Shivakumar said. He also questioned the Opposition’s objections to infrastructure projects, saying Bengaluru urgently required tunnel roads and double-decker corridors to address traffic congestion.
The Chief Minister said documents relating to various public land transfers, including those involving Metro, the Legislators’ Home, Press Club, Basava Bhavan, High Court parking and the Indira Gandhi Fountain, would be placed in the public domain. Accepting suggestions does not mean that I have taken a U-turn,” he said. Shivakumar also said the government would examine alternative solutions to the tunnel proposal and urged those opposing the project to suggest workable alternatives.On the possibility of prosecution against political leaders, Shivakumar said he had not taken any decision and that files concerning several leaders had been received from the Governor.
He said the files relating to B Nagendra, G Janardhana Reddy and M P Renukacharya, among others, were yet to undergo detailed legal examination.“We have to examine whether the summary is correct and whether the same standards have been applied to everyone. There will be no hasty decision,” he said.
Asked about Opposition claims that another ministerial “wicket” would fall, Shivakumar said anyone who had committed a mistake should face the consequences. “If I have committed a mistake, I too am not above punishment,” he said.
Shivakumar said the Kasturirangan report required detailed discussion as its recommendations could affect several villages across multiple districts. He noted that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had opposed the report and said the government would examine the issue keeping Karnataka’s interests in mind.
Mysuru Dasara to get new attractions
On preparations for the Mysuru Dasara celebrations, Shivakumar said a high-level meeting had been held and several new ideas and innovations were being considered. He said the government was in discussions with the Indian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence to include an Air Force contingent in the celebrations. Cultural performances representing different parts of South India, including Bidar and Kalaburagi, are also being planned, he said, adding that several suggestions had already been received to make this year’s Dasara celebrations more distinctive.
