Pralhad Joshi, MP for Dharwad, who of late has been in the firing line of the farmers over the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, has alleged that the recent agitation against him by farmers was politically motivated.
Mr. Joshi, a former president of the State BJP, made this allegation at a press conference here on Thursday called to brief the media about the two-year achievements of the NDA government at the Centre.
Mr Joshi, against whom farmers have held protests in the past, was again intercepted by them at Navalgund on Wednesday when he was returning after attending a new court building inauguration programme. The farmers, who were upset with Mr. Joshi after he reportedly declined to have a word with them on the Kalasa-Banduri Nala issue, deflated one of the tyres of his car in a bid to stop him. But Mr. Joshi left the venue in the car of the High Court Judge Justice Ram Mohan Reddy.
Clarifying on the incident, Mr. Joshi said that he had not refused to talk to the farmers but asked them to come and meet him in Hubballi.
“I had to leave with Justice Reddy as he had asked me to accompany him in his car. Justice Ram Mohan Reddy had cleared the Mahadayi river water sharing issue saying that since it was now before the Tribunal, nobody, including the Prime Minister, could intervene. I didn’t run away from the scene … some vested interest persons are spreading a rumour that I fled from the place. I am ready to have a meeting with them. Let them decide on a date,” he said
He said that Wednesday’s incident was politically motivated. Without taking the name of N.H. Konaraddi, MLA for Navalgund, Mr Joshi said that the local MLA had provoked the farmers to gain political mileage.
Meanwhile, Mr. Joshi urged the State government to consider the demands of the State police personnel. “If the police personnel go on a strike, it will be bring a bad name to the State,” he said. Mr. Joshi said that the Centre had approved a Rs.10,000 crore proposal for the development of Belekeri Port .
