HDK: Jaladhare yathra will cover 150 seats

NT Correspondent

The Janata Jaladhare Ganga Rathayatra, a programme chalked out by the Janata Dal (Secular) in what was interpreted as a counter to the Congress’ Mekedatu padayatra, which will cover over 150 Assembly constituencies, will begin after the ongoing Budget session of the state assembly. This was decided by former CM and senior JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy after a meeting with lawmakers and leaders of four districts here on Monday.

Already, one round of meetings with legislators and leaders of Bidar district has been held. In Monday’s meeting, the MLAs of Kanakambi, Mahadayi, Krishna Watershed area, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha attended the meeting.

Kumaraswamy said Belagavi district has been a strong base of the JD(S) and so the Rathayatra must pass through all taluk centres. All leaders must work unitedly and make the yatra a huge success. Every house must be given handbills explaining why the yatra has been organised and how the JD(S) aims to provide solutions to the problems irrigation projects are facing. This must be first understood by leaders who should then explain it to citizens. This event must be used to win back the confidence of people, he added.

Kumaraswamy said youth must actively participate in the Rathayatre and even the general public must be motivated to participate. Water from west flowing rivers like Kanakambi, Mahadayi, Krishna Watershed area, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha and other seven water points, would be collected and kept in the party office where puja would be offered till next year. The injustice being meted out to Karnataka in Mahadayi river water distribution must be explained to people. Besides, they must be told what the JD(S) wishes to do if it comes to power after the next Assembly polls.

Citizens must be told about the importance of the Rathayatra, the contributions of H.D. Deve Gowda as CM and PM and his (Kumaraswamy) contributions to the Mahadayi project and North Karnataka. Kumaraswamy also felt the yatra was already late and arrangements must be made without creating any confusion. The date for the launch of the Rathayatra would be announced soon, he added.