English daily published in Bengaluru & Doha
‘Democratic parties will have differences’
Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT
Admitting minor differences of opinion in the Congress party, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah and KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar said such differences are common in parties which have internal democracy.
Addressing a joint news conference in New Delhi on Friday, the two leaders said the BJP is trying to project that all is not well in the Congress and there were serious differences among top leaders. This is false and baseless; all leaders are united. The Congress has faith in democracy and has internal democracy too. So, naturally, minor differences of opinion are bound to be there. If a party claims there are no differences, then there is no point in a democracy. “We are working for the interests of people and the party. Our focus is on protecting the state and the Constitution rather than coming to power”.
With one year to go for the Assembly polls, all leaders are working unitedly since they know that there is a conducive atmosphere for the party to come to power in the state. The BJP which came to power in an unethical manner will complete its term next year. The biggest achievement of the incumbent government is ‘zero achievement’ in the last three and a half years. With no sign of development, people are cursing the present government, the leaders said.
Former AICC President Rahul Gandhi had convened a meeting of senior Congress leaders of Karnataka in Delhi on Thursday and discussed the strategies to be adopted to win the 2023 Assembly polls. Rahul suggested that the Karnataka unit work with caution as the party has a bright chance of returning to power in the state.
The Congress will resume its Mekedatu padayatra from Ramanagara to Bengaluru on February 27 urging the state government to secure environmental clearance for the construction of a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu in Ramanagar district. The Congress government in 2017 had submitted a Detailed Project Report to the Central Water Commission but it was returned seeking more details. Later, the coalition government in which D.K. Shivakumar was Water Resources Minister had provided all information sought by the CWC.
The project can be implemented once environment clearance is obtained. After the change of government, the BJP did not do anything to get the clearance. The balancing reservoir would store 67 tmc ft of water which would ensure supply to the whole of Bengaluru city and reduce the dependence on KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathi reservoirs.
The padayatra would culminate with a huge convention at National High School ground in Bengaluru on March 3 at 4 pm in which all the leaders from the Cauvery basin would participate. Information regarding the padayatra has been shared with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and the police in Ramanagar district to make all necessary arrangements on all five days, said Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar.
