Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Feb 28: On Day 2 of the second leg of Congress party’s resumed Mekedatu padayatra, KPCC Chief DK Shivakumar on Monday said he was not bothered at being described as ‘Mannina Maga’ (son of the soil), a description commonly used for JD(S) Supremo HD Deve Gowda, or as ‘Kallina Maga’ (son of stone) as ridiculed by Gowda’s son HD Kumaraswamy alluding to the media description of ‘Bande’ for the granite business, and asserted that both soil or stone are part and parcel of earth.
“We are walking on tar roads unmindful of scorching sun without any kind of shade of trees and have seen rocks and ponds. The padayatra is progressing,’’ he said and pointed out rock or stone were essentially soil. The rock or stones can be given shape and converted into slabs or statues, he said.
Calling Kumaraswamy as Anna (elder brother) and Kumaranna, the State Congress President said it is quite possible to avoid when somebody comes to attack but difficult to prevent others from speaking good or bad things, and advised the JD(S) leader to be careful in the language used by him.
Shivakumar referred to Kumaraswamy’s plans to launch a ‘Jaladhare’ struggle and said he had no objection if it was carried out Chamarajanagara near Mysuru till Bidar. “I will extend full support and no criticism,’’ he declared.
The KPCC Chief said the party’s padayatra demanding implementation of the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project is for getting drinking water to the people of Bengaluru and surrounding areas. "This is an apolitical struggle. All sections of people and even those belonging to different political parties have extended support and are with us. The Congress party is merely organising the struggle,’’ he said and mentioned that water was a basic necessity as it is impossible to live without water.
When SM Krishna was the Chief Minister, he had staged padayatra for Cauvery water. Senior BJP leader LK Advani did Rathyatra. Former Prime Minister had carried out padayatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Ex-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Rajashekar Reddy and present Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had also taken up padayatras. All these leaders had fought valiantly with grit and determination, Shivakumar said pointing out that the Congress party was inspired by the many struggles launched by Mahatma Gandhi.
Shivakumar attacked the ruling BJP and the Bommai government for creating unnecessary obstacles knowing fully well that they have not taken any action despite ruling in the State and in the Centre. “If they (Government) want, they can go ahead even now as there are no impediments,’’ he said.
Cong padayatra politically motivated: CM
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who has been a vocal critic of the Congress party’s padayatra, lambasted it as a ‘political gimmick’ to derive political gains.
Replying to a question from media persons in Hubballi, he said there is no need to give any importance to Congress padayatra.
“Though the party leaders are aware of the reality about the project, they are out on a padayatra for political gains. Congress leaders failed to prepare even the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project when they were in power. People are asking as to what was the contribution of Congress leaders for the Mekedatu project,’’ Bommai said.
The State government would take necessary decisions to enable the people of the State to get the benefit of Mekedatu and Kalasa Banduri projects. There should be no politics over this, the Chief Minister said.