M.J. Akbar, journalist-turned-Rajya Sabha member, on Friday accused the Congress of speaking with a forked tongue on the inter-State row over Kalasa-Banduri project which involves sharing of Mahadayi river waters.
Denying the Congress’ allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not properly responded to the State’s request for an early resolution of the row, the BJP national spokesperson said: “The Congress says something here [in Karnataka] and something else there [Goa].”
“It is a complex country and we need to work together in a federal system,” Mr. Akbar said, adding that it was up to the Congress to get some view on what its units in the riparian States think about the issue.
Emergency session
Meanwhile, BJP State president Pralhad Joshi urged the State government to convene an emergency session of the legislature to discuss issues related to drought and agrarian crisis besides the removal of the Lokayukta.
He suspected that the government was trying to put off the session following a possible visit by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to the State. Mr. Joshi described Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar as an “irresponsible Minister” while launching a counter attack on him for shifting the blame for the power crisis on the BJP.
“The Minister has failed to book the power corridor (transmission lines) to get additional power from outside the State though he wants the Centre to give additional power,” he said.
Mr. Joshi announced that the party State unit had decided to complete the election of presidents to its district units before November 30.
MLC Bhanuprakash had been appointed election officer for the organisational polls.
