BJP not to take up Mahadayi issue with Modi, says Yeddyurappa

Mangalore Today News Network

Belgavi, February 27, 2016: The State Bharatiya Janata Party has decided not to take up the issue of Mahadayi water dispute with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the city to address the Kisan Maha Sammelana later in the afternoon.

Former Chief Minister and national vice-president of the party B.S. Yeddyurappa told newsmen here on Saturday that the Prime Minister was visiting Belagavi to address farmers to create awareness and motivate them to take advantage of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana coming into effect from the Kharif season this year.

He said the party would take other available opportunities to discuss the matter with the Prime Minister but not on this occasion, as Mr. Modi was precisely looking forward to motivate farmers to take advantage of the new crop insurance scheme. The Centre wanted to enrol at least 50 lakh farmers under the scheme.

Mr.Yeddyurappa, however, reiterated that the present imbroglio over Mahadayi was mainly due to lack of consensus within the Congress units of the three riparian States of Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra as also its national president Sonia Gandhi. Let the Congress evolve a consensus first, then we will take up the issue with the Prime Minister to find an amicable solution at the earliest, he said.

Angry KRRS

The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene faction headed by Kodihalli Chandrashekar, who joined the ongoing farmers’ protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here, reacted sharply, accusing Mr.Yeddyurappa of adopting “escapism” and indulging in cheap and deceptive politics by giving up an opportunity to pressure the Prime Minister to positively respond to the farmers’ problems.

Mr.Yeddyurappa and his BJP had promised to resolve the Mahadayi water dispute and implement the recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers headed by M.S. Swaminathan, besides several other assurances to the farmers during electioneering to the last Assembly and Parliament elections. But when the Prime Minister himself was visiting the State and claiming that farmers’ welfare was his government’s top priority, the State BJP opted to tread a "negative and anti-farmer path," Mr. Chandrashekar said.

“There cannot be a more disgusting mindset,” Mr.Chandrashakher said and added that the farmers would continue to struggle for justice.