Discontent within Party has Sent Wrong Signals - Dhananjaya Kumar
Political Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Jun 14: Four time M P from Mangalore and former Union Minister V Dhananjaya Kumar has been named as the Karnataka’s Special Representative in New Delhi recently. He continues to be the party spokesperson in the state and would shuttle between New Delhi and Bangalore as per the demands of his new job. In a conversation with daijiworld.com he speaks about his new responsibilities and also about the simmering discontent in the BJP in Karnataka and its repercussions.
Q. As a Special Representative what does your responsibility entail?
A. “My main job is to liaison with the government of India to get clearance of all the pending proposals and get more and more assistance the state.
Q. Considering that there was some controversy surrounding the post in what way do you think you fit into this new job?.
A. My experience as a four time Member of Parliament and as Minister would keep me focused in getting the work done. My identify would be a great asset in getting the work done.
Q. As Special Representative of Karnataka at the centre what assistance will you be able to get to Karnataka?
A. There are three parameters under which states are eligible to get monetary assistance from the centre. Firstly it includes what is constitutionally due to the state depending on state’s contribution, secondly Government of India sponsored programmes and lastly those programmes undertaken by the state, with assistance from international bodies like the World Bank, which actually require approval of Government of India. International bodies release funds in installments and it needs co-ordination at the state level. Utilization certificate also has to be procured for procuring the subsequent installment of grant.
As a special representative I will be able to speed up the matter at the central level.
Q. What is going to be your priority as far as getting sanction for projects/assistance for the state is concerned?
A. We have requested Rs. 2000 crores to be sanctioned under Drought Relief Fund as only 90 crores was sanctioned earlier under this head. The state released another 30 crores. We are now pursuing the matter and the Agriculture Minister has agreed to sanction Rs. 500 crores shortly. The state is also to get money from the centre under loan waiver scheme part of which is to be borne by the centre. We have asked for Rs. 1800 crores under this scheme.
Q. What work have you actually initiated after assuming office?
The state has about 40 MP’s in both the houses of Parliament and on n June 3rd we held a meeting in which 39 MP’s participated in which it was decided to pursue the interest of the state by all irrespective of the political parties they belong to. It was for the first time in the last 25 years such a meeting was held.
We are also working on getting the railway line sanctioned for the state earlier. Karnataka is the only state where 50% of the cost of Railway projects is agreed to be borne by the state. We want to impress upon the railways to complete the Hubli-Ankola line, which is still pending for want of environmental clearance certificate. We also want to urge the railways to introduce Bangalore- Shimoga inter-city express, announced last year. We are also asking for Mangalore-Bangalore day train service which is now pending due to technical reasons.
Q. What are these technical reasons?
The 23-km long Ghat section between Subrahmanya and Sakleshpur cannot have movement of trains simultaneously. Due to heavy goods movement on this line passenger train cannot be run. The only solution is to increase the speed of the trains moving in this line to accommodate more train traffic.
Q. As a spokesperson of the party you said there was no need for Arun Jaitley to Come to Bangalore to settle the discontent and murmuring within the party?
A. There was no need mainly because the problem was discussed at the centre in the presence of party President and other leaders.
Q. When Arun Jaitley arrived in Bangalore Reddy brothers have escaped and there is speculation about the stability of the state government is still under threat?
A. The Reddy brothers had come to Delhi and the matter was resolved there. Since Reddy’s were busy with their Thirupathi offering they could not be there in Bangalore. There is nothing more to speculate about their absence.
Q. Then what was the necessity of sending Arun Jaitley if everything was solved in Delhi?
A. The problem within the BJP was due to the ‘lack of proper understanding’ which was sorted out at the centre. Jaitely came mainly to deal with Eshwarappa issue.
Q. So what is the result of his visit?
A. The central leadership has made it clear that party leaders should air their opinion in party forums and not go to the media directly. Since the party has a forum it gives an opportunity for the leaders to air their grievances and sort out differences, if any.
Q. Hasn’t this bickering, that too within one year of coming to power sends wrong signals to the people of the state and also elsewhere?
It does. But that should not happen and we will make all out efforts to put an end to all the ruckus that is being heard and focus on working like a family.