“If injustice is meted out to our part of Karnataka, then I am going to fight for this cause till my death. Separate state of North Karnataka is a necessity.”The time has come now. Umesh Katti, BJP MLA, once again raised his voice, in Sankeshwara, Belgaum District.
He proposed to make a separate State by including 13 districts of North Karnataka and 3 districts of (Kollapur, Solapur, and Sangli)South Maharastra. “The region of North Karnataka has been ignored for long. The division is necessary for its development”- He said.
He also slammed Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for making a commitment at an election rally in Jatt, Maharashtra, that he would release water from Karnataka’s Tubchi-Bableshwar lift irrigation project.
Terming it an “election gimmick”, Katti said, “Being the CM, Yediyurappa should refrain from making such childish statements.” He had made the announcement at a rally in Jatt on October 16.
“Why should Karnataka share water with Maharashtra when many areas of the state are suffering from drought?’’ he added. Katti questioned the stand of Fadnavis, Yediyurappa and PM Narendra Modi with regard to water sharing between the two states.
Referring to the Mahadayi water issue, he said- “The CMs of both states must sit across the table and take a call on such sensitive issues. Any decision on the sharing of water should not harm the interests of the people of Karnataka. When the state government is not ready to give enough water to its own people, how is it possible to give water to people outside?” he asked.
He said BJP is ruling in centre and in the states of Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra, where the Mahadayi river flows through. Devendra Fadnavis, PM Modi and Yeddyurappa have to resolve this issue.
If the interest of farmers is not protected by both State as well as Central Government, the issue of separating North Karnataka will rise without fail, he warned his own party.
Before I die, I may not become the Minister of Karnataka, but, I will become Chief-Minister of North-Karnataka, he added. Umesh Katti is a six-time MLA from Hukkeri constituency and he has been disgruntled ever since he was denied a cabinet berth in Karnataka BJP government.
Karnataka assembly session will be held in the month of March-2020, before that, Government has to take a decision regarding the issue of development of North-Karnataka, Umesh Katti cautioned.
Home Minister justifies CM’s stand
Home-Minister Basavaraja Bommai came to the rescue of chief minister stating that releasing water to Maharashtra is an old issue, not an election gimmick.
In continuation, in summer, 4 TMC water is to be released to Krishna and Bhima river. In turn, we have to release 4 TMC water is to be released to Broche river through Tubs lift irrigation. Hence, there is nothing wrong with the statement made by the CM, he justified.
Reacting to Umesh Katti´s comments, CM Yeddyurappa said in the interest of farmers of both the states (Karnataka-Maharashtra), the issue should not be made political. Bjp led government is committed to its words, he said.
Katti’s criticism came just weeks after Bijapur MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not providing adequate funds to rebuild affected parts of Karnataka. The centre has since then approved an additional Rs 1,813.75 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund to flood-hit Karnataka and Bihar.
Meanwhile, Farmers from North Karnataka are protesting in Bangalore for the last 4 days, urging to settle Mahadayi river dispute.
